Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 09 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 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 2,935 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 14s period. 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 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 9th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 9th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 14s
Most Powerful 8AM (Fri 10th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 14s

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


Alright, grab your board. This is a bit of a mixed bag we’ve got coming up. The main event is Whale Rock, a reef break that’s strictly for the advanced crew. The water’s sitting at 71°F right now, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The real action starts Saturday afternoon, July 11th. It’s not the biggest swell, coming in at 6ft from the SSW, but the wind is glassy, dead calm. That’s the magic word. The surf will be as clean as it gets. The energy is moderate (1230), but for a reef, that long 13-second period will wrap in nicely. Keep in mind, this spot is *inconsistent* and it’s usually only for the more experienced, but when it’s like this, you don’t want to miss it. The crowds can show up, but for a session like that, you’ll risk it.

The following week starts to get messy. Monday the 13th is a write-off—strong winds and a short, weak 8-second swell from the east. That’s a no-go. The next standout is a bit of a gamble. On Saturday morning, July 18th, the swell jumps up to 8ft from the ESE. It’s a bit of a chunky period (8 seconds), but the wind is clean and cross-offshore. That’s a lot of water moving. The energy is strong (1438), so this is for the big dogs only. It’s a big powerful slab that day.

Then, looking way ahead, the 23rd of July is interesting. The 15-second period from the SSW is a long, rolling groundswell. That’s the kind of energy that loves a reef. The swell is 5ft, but that period is the story. The wind is light onshore, but the energy is solid (1539). The real gem that day might be Thursday afternoon when the wind swings offshore and a 7ft E swell cleans up. The energy is moderate (1293), but the conditions are excellent. That’s a proper session.

The rest of the window is a waiting game. There are days with chop and onshore winds, and a few mornings with clean but small surf. The best of it is that Saturday afternoon glass-off and the long-period window on the 23rd. Keep your eyes on the forecast for that.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Mon afternoon).

Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
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
4
3
2
4
3
4
4
2
2
0
0
0
2
2
0
3
2
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
13
2.3
SSW
14
2.5
SSW
14
2.5
SSW
14
2.2
SSW
13
1.9
SSW
13
1.9
SSW
13
1.9
S
12
1.5
S
12
1.2
SSW
12
1
SSW
11
2
E
8
1.8
E
7
1.4
E
7
1.4
SE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.7
E
9
1.8
E
10
1.8
E
10
1.7
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1356
1581
2098
2815
2285
1592
1192
1230
1071
650
361
263
441
348
195
302
477
505
682
703
592
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
20
SSW
10
WSW
15
SSW
20
SSW
15
SW
10
SSW
5
SE
0
SSE
5
NE
10
E
15
NNE
30
NE
30
ENE
15
N
10
ENE
25
ENE
15
N
10
NNE
10
NE
10
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
10:24AM1.11m
11:11PM1.32m
12:00PM1.13m
00:35AM1.36m
1:20PM1.23m
1:45AM1.45m
2:22PM1.36m
2:41AM1.54m
3:13PM1.49m
3:30AM1.62m
3:59PM1.61m
4:14AM1.65m
4:42PM1.68m
4:55AM1.65m
Low Tide
4:26PM0.50m
5:48AM0.49m
5:57PM0.49m
7:07AM0.40m
7:18PM0.40m
8:09AM0.29m
8:22PM0.30m
9:00AM0.17m
9:16PM0.19m
9:45AM0.08m
10:04PM0.13m
10:26AM0.02m
10:48PM0.10m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
 mm
2
14
3
2
1
1
2
4
1
Temp °C
19
19
18
18
18
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
19
20
19
19
20
19
21
23
20
Feels °C
16
15
15
16
15
15
16
16
18
17
16
16
14
14
16
19
18
17
19
21
17
  • 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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