Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.5° C
0.7° 

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 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, S swell with 2,289 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period with S 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 12) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whale Rock in the next 16 days are 2.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sun 12th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 12s
Best Surf11AM (Sun 12th Jul)5ft (1.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 18th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s

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


G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Whale Rock. This is a tricky reef setup for advanced surfers only, and it’s inconsistent. The water temp is sitting at 71° which is pretty much average for this time of year.

The first real chance to get wet comes Sunday morning, July 12th. That’s the standout of the early run. We’re looking at 5 ft of swell out of the south with a nice 12-second period, and the wind is glassy, absolutely dead calm. It’s clean as a whistle, and the combined energy is a solid moderate 652. This is your window. After that, the wind gets messy and the surf quality drops right off.

Monday the 13th has a bit of size, 7 ft, but it’s short-period east windswell at 8 seconds and the wind is cross. It’s a bit of a mess. Tuesday morning the 14th is glassy again with 6 ft of east swell, but the tide and shape are questionable. The rest of that week is a mix of cross-shore breezes and marginal waves, nothing to get excited about.

The second week gets a bit wild. Around Wednesday, July 22nd, we get a big pulse of 12 ft out of the south-southwest at 12 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore at 12 mph. That’s a lot of energy (4,397) but it’s going to be choppy and messy – only for the brave and the experienced. That same swell peaks on Saturday, July 26th, with 10 ft of south-southwest groundswell at 14 seconds, but again the wind is cross-shore, so it’s lumpy and not clean. For a reef break like this, a long period south swell is a positive, but the wind is the spoiler.

Overall, if you’re an advanced surfer and you’re keen, the absolute best bet is that Sunday morning, July 12th. Glassy, clean, good size. After that, it’s a lot of waiting and hoping for the wind to play nice. Be aware, crowds are possible here.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
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
1
3
3
0
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
1
0
3
1
1
1
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
S
12
1.2
SSW
12
1.9
E
7
2.2
E
8
2
E
8
1.2
SE
8
1.9
E
9
1.9
E
9
1.7
E
9
1.6
E
10
1.6
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.1
E
10
1.3
SSW
14
2.3
SSW
13
1.7
S
12
1.8
S
15
2.2
S
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
650
368
338
553
507
206
588
593
490
482
504
461
402
340
394
234
722
1804
789
1525
1759
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
15
ENE
10
NNW
5
NE
25
NE
10
WNW
5
SSW
5
ENE
10
NNW
10
SSW
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
NE
15
NE
15
WSW
20
SW
30
SSW
15
SSE
25
ENE
30
NE
30
NNE
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
High Tide
2:22PM1.36m
2:41AM1.54m
3:13PM1.49m
3:30AM1.62m
3:59PM1.61m
4:14AM1.65m
4:42PM1.68m
4:55AM1.65m
5:23PM1.71m
5:33AM1.60m
6:02PM1.69m
6:10AM1.52m
6:40PM1.62m
Low Tide
8:09AM0.29m
8:22PM0.30m
9:00AM0.17m
9:16PM0.19m
9:45AM0.08m
10:04PM0.13m
10:26AM0.02m
10:48PM0.10m
11:05AM0.00m
11:30PM0.13m
11:42AM0.03m
00:10AM0.19m
12:17PM0.09m
00:48AM0.28m
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
mod rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:16
5:17
 mm
1
1
2
9
2
Temp °C
17
18
17
17
20
18
19
20
18
20
20
18
19
21
19
20
20
18
17
17
17
Feels °C
17
16
15
16
18
16
18
19
17
17
17
18
18
18
18
16
15
16
13
12
11
  • 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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