Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 17 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
20.4° C
0.4° 

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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SW swell with 2,013 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with E 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Fri 17th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Best Surf 5AM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 5AM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Whale Rock over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a slow start. The first recommendation isn’t until Saturday the 18th, so Friday is a write-off – marginal conditions and a score that’s barely worth a paddle. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The real standout window kicks off Saturday morning, the 18th. We’re looking at a glassy 3 ft swell from the south with a long 13-second period. That’s clean, lined-up, and the energy is moderate. It’s a reef break, so that long period groundswell will wrap in nicely. The wind is dead calm – glass. That’s a proper session. It’s an advanced spot that’s inconsistent and can get crowded sometimes, but on a morning like this, you’ll be sharing it with folks who know what they’re doing.

Saturday afternoon bumps up to 5 ft from the south, period holding at 12 seconds, and the wind swings cross-offshore. That’s clean, pushy, and the energy jumps. This is the best on offer in the first week – bigger, cleaner, and with more punch. If you can only get one session, make it Saturday arvo.

Sunday the 19th morning is another glassy one, 3 ft from the southeast with a 14-second period. Very clean, but a touch smaller. The energy is still strong, so it’ll be fun but not as meaty as Saturday.

From Monday the 20th onward, things get more mixed. Monday morning pushes 5 ft from the southeast, but the wind is cross-shore and the quality is only marginal. That afternoon the wind swings cross-onshore and it turns choppy – not worth it.

There’s a decent pulse midweek, Wednesday the 22nd afternoon, with 6 ft from the SSW at 13 seconds, but the wind is onshore and the conditions are a bit of a mystery. The energy is strong, but with onshore wind, it’s going to be a mess.

The second week has a couple of promising but less certain windows. Friday the 24th has a very long period SSW swell – 5 ft at 16 seconds, energy through the roof. But the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s a gamble. If the wind plays ball, that could be a ripper, but it’s a long way out.

Saturday the 25th sees a big jump – 7 ft from the SSW at 16 seconds, but the wind is a strong 25 mph cross-offshore. That’s a lot of water moving, and at that size, it’s expert-only. The energy is enormous, but it’s going to be heavy and tough. Sunday the 26th is still big (7 ft), but with a moderate cross-onshore, it’s choppy and messy.

After that, it fades quickly. From Monday the 28th onward, the swell drops below 3 ft and the wind stays messy. The last few days of July and into August are mostly poor, with small, weak, and choppy conditions. By the 1st of August, we’re seeing a jump back up to 7 ft, but with a strong cross-onshore wind – that’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle one.

So to sum it up: your best bet is Saturday the 18th afternoon, followed closely by Sunday morning the 19th. The second week has potential on the 24th and 25th, but it’s a long way off and the wind is a question mark. Don’t sleep on Saturday.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
2
3
3
3
2
4
3
0
3
1
1
2
2
3
1
1
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
E
10
1.1
SSW
13
1.2
SSW
11
0.8
S
13
1.4
S
12
1.2
S
11
0.9
SE
14
1.4
SE
13
1.6
SE
12
1.5
SE
12
1.5
SE
12
1.4
SE
12
1.2
SE
11
1.1
SE
11
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
13
1.6
SSW
7
1.3
SSW
12
1.5
SSW
12
1.4
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
237
390
319
219
544
335
304
604
760
645
624
528
350
268
334
402
1002
256
429
699
700
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
10
S
10
NNW
0
SW
15
SSW
10
W
5
ESE
5
S
10
W
5
NE
15
ENE
10
N
5
NE
10
NE
20
SW
10
NE
10
E
30
SW
15
SSW
10
E
10
N
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
glassy
cross
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
6:02PM1.69m
6:10AM1.52m
6:40PM1.62m
6:47AM1.42m
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
Low Tide
11:42AM0.03m
00:10AM0.19m
12:17PM0.09m
00:48AM0.28m
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
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
7:00
7:00
6:58
6:58
6:58
6:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:16
5:17
5:17
5:19
5:19
5:20
5:21
 mm
Temp °C
19
19
18
19
20
18
19
19
18
18
19
18
23
24
22
23
23
21
19
20
19
Feels °C
17
17
19
18
17
16
18
17
17
16
16
15
20
21
20
20
19
23
16
18
19
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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