Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.1° 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 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,017 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s. 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 1.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) 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 2.2m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sat 8th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 16s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 11th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Most Powerful 2PM (Tue 11th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, mate, let’s break it down in feet and miles per hour. This is your local report from me, Rusty.

Alright, I’ve been pouring over the charts for Whale Rock, and it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’ve got a 16-day window, but the first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t show up until early on Saturday, August 10th. There’s a big dry spell from now until then, so don’t bother waxing up just yet.

The main issue is a lot of wind and swell that just doesn’t play nice together. The water temp is around 70°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing weird.

The one and only highlight in this whole period is the early morning of Saturday, August 10th. We’re looking at a solid 8 feet of swell coming from the SSE, but the period is a short 8 seconds – that’s wind swell, not groundswell, so it’ll be a bit choppy and lack that deep-water energy. The combined energy is moderate (695). The problem is the wind is a cross-shore from the SSW at 18 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. It’s borderline, but it’s the best we’ve got. This is a reef break, so it’s for advanced surfers only at this size, and it can get crowded here sometimes. The swell is coming from the SSE, but the break likes it from the S, so it’s not perfect.

Later that afternoon, the swell drops to 8 feet from the S with an 8-second period, and the energy jumps way up to a strong 1238, but the wind is still cross-shore and the conditions are messy. It’s marginal.

After that, it’s a long, ugly stretch. From Sunday the 11th right through the rest of the month, every single forecast says poor surf conditions. The winds are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, often strong, and the swell is either too small or too jumbled. You’ll see a day like Wednesday the 12th with 8 feet of swell, but it’s paired with a nasty 18 mph cross-onshore wind, making it a lumpy mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

The last week of the forecast is particularly weak. Swell heights drop below 3 feet, periods are short, and the wind is still messy. The combined energy values are tiny, sometimes in the double digits (like 14 or 15), which is barely a ripple. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions” almost every single time.

If you’re an expert looking for a challenge, maybe the morning of August 10th is your window, but don’t expect anything clean. For everyone else, this is a blank run. The consistency here is listed as “inconsistent,” so a poor run like this isn’t totally unusual for this spot. But forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SW by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
2.3
SSW
7
2.5
S
8
2.4
SSE
8
2.3
S
8
1.3
SE
7
1.5
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
13
1.8
ESE
8
2.5
ESE
9
1.7
SE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.5
E
8
1.7
E
8
1.6
E
7
1.4
E
7
1.8
E
7
1.8
E
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
461
362
253
367
479
1014
657
667
174
943
960
444
885
430
477
324
377
249
189
284
338
Wind (km/h)
15
NNE
25
SSW
20
SW
25
SW
45
SW
35
S
30
SSW
20
S
10
SW
15
SSE
20
ESE
20
E
30
ENE
25
ENE
20
NNE
25
NE
35
NE
25
NNE
25
NE
35
NE
15
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
11:51AM1.05m
00:36AM1.24m
1:28PM1.20m
1:50AM1.37m
2:25PM1.38m
2:42AM1.50m
3:10PM1.55m
3:24AM1.61m
3:49PM1.69m
4:02AM1.67m
4:26PM1.78m
4:36AM1.68m
5:00PM1.80m
Low Tide
5:54PM0.59m
7:11AM0.48m
7:30PM0.46m
8:12AM0.32m
8:30PM0.31m
8:57AM0.17m
9:17PM0.18m
9:35AM0.05m
9:57PM0.08m
10:10AM-0.03m
10:33PM0.04m
10:42AM-0.06m
11:07PM0.05m
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:35
 mm
20
5
1
6
2
4
9
2
2
3
Temp °C
23
28
19
18
19
15
15
16
15
16
16
16
17
17
17
16
18
16
19
21
19
Feels °C
21
26
17
13
14
7
8
12
11
12
12
12
11
12
12
11
12
10
14
15
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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