Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.6° C
0.8° 

Whale Rock surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Whale Rock surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s period, S swell with 2,807 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period with SE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whale Rock this week:

The surf forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whale Rock in the next 16 days are 2.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Sun 19th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 12s
Best Surf 8PM (Sun 19th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 12s
Most Powerful 2PM (Fri 24th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Looks like we’ve got a solid run of swell lined up for Whale Rock, but it’s a spot that takes a bit of reading – it’s a reef break that’s inconsistent, so you’ve gotta pick your moments. The water’s sitting at 70.9°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing out of the ordinary.

The action kicks off Sunday morning, 19 July. We’ve got a clean 4.3ft S swell rolling in with a period of 11 seconds, and the wind is glassy out of the east at just 3 mph. The combined wave energy is moderate (845), and it’s going to be absolutely glassy. This is a real treat – expect very good surf conditions, even if the break doesn’t always fire. The swell direction is from the S, which is a bit off the optimum S direction, but the glassy conditions make up for it. That afternoon, the wind swings cross-on and the swell jumps to 5.2ft SE, but the quality drops – it’s marginal, so I’d stick to the morning.

Monday 20 July morning is a standout. We’ve got 7.9ft of SW swell with an 11-second period, and glassy S wind at 3 mph. The combined energy is strong (2452), and the forecast says excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers – that’s because 7.9ft is solid, and it’s pushing well over the reef. This is the best of the whole run. The SW direction doesn’t match the optimum S swell direction perfectly, but the size and clean conditions make it a ripper. The afternoon sees a drop to 5.2ft with tricky conditions, so don’t sleep in.

Tuesday 21 July morning is cross-on and a bit smaller at 4.3ft SE, but the afternoon glass-off with 3.9ft SE (772 energy) brings back that clean, very good surf feel. Not huge, but a fun session.

We hit a rough patch from Wednesday 22 July through Thursday 23 July. The wind cranks up – 9 to 19 mph from the NE and SW – and the swell gets messy. Wednesday’s 3.6ft and 3.0ft are poor, with choppy conditions. Thursday has a 5.9ft SSW swell but the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-off, which at least keeps it clean-ish, but the short period (8 seconds) means the waves are weak and lumpy. Not worth paddling out.

Friday 24 July morning offers a glimmer: 5.9ft S swell with 11 seconds and light cross wind (1176 energy). It’s marginal, but light wind means it’s not a total loss. The afternoon, though, is a write-off – 7.2ft SSW with 17-second period, but the onshore wind at 12 mph makes it a mess. That long period 17-second swell would be better at a point or reef, but the wind ruins it.

Saturday 25 July is a washout with cross winds and moderate breezes – the 4.3ft and 4.9ft SSW swells are marginal at best.

Sunday 26 July morning is a nice return to form: glassy SE wind at 3 mph, 4.3ft SSW swell with a 13-second period (547 energy). Expect very good surf conditions – clean and workable. The afternoon gets blown out again.

Monday 27 July morning is another standout. We’ve got 4.6ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and glassy N wind at 3 mph. The combined energy is strong (1062), and the forecast says excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers. That 16-second period is proper groundswell, and on a reef like Whale Rock, it’ll hold up nicely. The wind is perfect. The afternoon gets hammered by 19 mph cross wind, so get in early.

From Tuesday 28 July through Wednesday 29 July, the swell pumps up big – 8.2ft to 11.5ft – but it’s accompanied by strong onshore winds from the E and NE, 16 to 19 mph. The combined energy hits 4416 on Tuesday afternoon, which is very strong, but the conditions are poor and lumpy. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddling one. The 9.8ft SE swell on Wednesday morning is still cross-on and choppy – not worth it for the average surfer.

Thursday 30 July morning has 6.6ft E swell with a short 9-second period and light cross wind (1107 energy) – marginal. But the afternoon is a gem: glassy S wind at 3 mph, 5.6ft E swell with 9 seconds (851 energy), and expect very good surf conditions. It’s a short-period swell, but the glassy conditions make it clean and fun.

Friday 31 July drops off – 2.6ft SSW swell with 15-second

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Wed night, light winds from the NNW by Fri night).

Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
4
2
3
2
3
3
0
0
1
1
0
2
3
0
4
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
S
11
1.6
SE
11
1.8
SE
12
2.4
SW
11
1.6
SE
12
1.4
SE
12
1.3
SE
12
0.9
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
1.4
SW
12
1.8
SSW
8
2.2
SSW
8
1.9
SSW
11
1.8
S
11
2.2
SSW
17
1.7
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
15
1.5
SSW
15
1.5
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
396
589
976
1227
689
551
425
400
619
434
295
607
393
614
798
750
2518
1207
736
898
801
Wind (km/h)
5
E
10
ENE
25
WSW
5
S
5
ESE
10
NNW
5
S
5
E
10
N
15
NE
25
NE
25
SW
30
SW
30
SSW
15
WSW
10
SSW
20
NE
15
N
5
S
20
SSW
15
W
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
7:18PM1.51m
7:23AM1.30m
7:56PM1.39m
8:04AM1.18m
8:41PM1.26m
8:56AM1.06m
9:43PM1.15m
10:27AM0.98m
11:22PM1.10m
12:30PM1.00m
00:57AM1.13m
1:45PM1.09m
1:57AM1.22m
Low Tide
12:52PM0.20m
1:27AM0.38m
1:28PM0.32m
2:08AM0.49m
2:08PM0.45m
2:59AM0.58m
2:59PM0.58m
4:14AM0.66m
4:23PM0.67m
6:05AM0.66m
6:21PM0.68m
7:30AM0.58m
7:40PM0.60m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
6:58
6:58
6:58
6:58
6:56
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:17
5:19
5:19
5:20
5:21
5:21
5:22
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
19
20
18
18
19
17
18
18
17
23
25
22
18
20
19
18
17
17
19
19
17
Feels °C
18
18
17
17
17
15
17
17
16
19
20
19
13
15
14
16
15
14
18
17
15
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Whale Rock Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Whale Rock provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whale Rock can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whale Rock surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Whale Rock) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Whale Rock may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Whale Rock is 47 km (29 miles) from the city of Port Saint Johns. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Saint Johns. Port Saint Johns has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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