Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.8° C
1.1° 

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 23 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with 1,739 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 9s. 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 24th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 16s
Best Surf11PM (Fri 24th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 16s
Most Powerful 2PM (Thu 30th 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 on the cards for our local patch.

First up, we’re looking at a spot that's a bit of a specialist’s wave. Whale Rock is a reef break that needs the right conditions to fire, and it’s a bit inconsistent. The water is sitting at 71°, which is a touch warmer than what we’d usually expect for this time of year.

The outlook kicks off on Thursday, 23 July, but honestly, it’s nothing to write home about. We’ve got a small 3 ft SSW swell, but the wind is a messy cross-shore, so it’s going to be a bit of a chop fest. The combined energy is only moderate (480), so it’s a pretty weak set-up. Not a day to get excited about.

Friday the 24th sees a jump in size. The morning brings a solid 7 ft SSW swell with a fresh cross-offshore wind, which should clean it up a bit. The energy is strong (1562), and it’s a short period of 10 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. This is getting into the size that’s a bit much for beginners. The afternoon drops to 5 ft but the wind swings cross-shore, making it messy again.

Now, Saturday the 25th is where we need to lock in. The morning session is the standout of the whole period. We’ve got a 4 ft SSW swell, a period of 15 seconds, and glassy conditions with that ENE breeze at just 3 mph. That’s clean, lined-up surf right there. The combined energy is moderate (966), but with that long period, it’s got some real grunt. This is a groundswell, so it’ll be a bit more lined up and powerful, but at a reef break like this, it’s going to be a treat. The afternoon gets a bit choppy again, so make it a dawn patrol.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a bit of a write-off. Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are a mix of small, choppy, and onshore winds. There’s a pulse on the 28th (Tuesday) with a 8 ft S swell, but it’s cross-onshore and messy, so it’s not worth the paddle out. Late July and early August are dominated by bigger, stronger swell but with howling onshore winds from the east. The wave heights climb to 10 ft+ on the 29th and 30th, but the wind is a fresh onshore, making it a complete mess. With that much swell and poor quality, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

We then hit a bit of a gap before things get interesting again. There’s a window on Saturday, 1 August, with a 8 ft ESE swell and a light cross-shore wind. The energy is strong (1185), but it’s a bit of a gamble. The following days are mostly small and choppy.

The real potential for the far end of the forecast is on Wednesday, 5 August. We’ve got a 4 ft SSW swell, but the period is a massive 17 seconds in the morning, hitting 22 seconds in the afternoon. That’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is strong (1309 and 2544). The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but that kind of period will produce some seriously powerful, well-shaped waves at this reef. It’s a promising one, but it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it.

The run ends on Friday, 7 August, with a drop back to small 3 ft SSW swell and a clean cross-offshore wind. It’s a small finale, but a nice one.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu night, calm by Sat morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NE by Mon morning).

Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
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
0
1
2
2
4
3
1
3
0
0
1
1
0
2
1
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)
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
12
2.2
SSW
8
2.2
SSW
10
1.4
SSW
16
1.5
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
13
1.1
SSW
13
0.8
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
6
0.8
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
2.4
S
8
3
SSE
9
3
SE
9
3
SE
9
2.5
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
307
263
612
980
1081
949
610
508
514
414
211
326
201
231
364
627
819
1447
1328
1502
1255
Wind (km/h)
10
S
15
SSW
30
WSW
30
SW
20
S
5
WNW
5
ENE
15
ENE
15
N
20
NE
35
NE
15
NNE
10
NE
30
SSW
20
WSW
15
SSE
25
SSE
20
SE
25
ESE
30
E
35
E
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
10:27AM0.98m
11:22PM1.10m
12:30PM1.00m
00:57AM1.13m
1:45PM1.09m
1:57AM1.22m
2:31PM1.20m
2:39AM1.32m
3:07PM1.32m
3:13AM1.42m
3:38PM1.42m
3:43AM1.50m
4:08PM1.52m
4:12AM1.56m
Low Tide
4:23PM0.67m
6:05AM0.66m
6:21PM0.68m
7:30AM0.58m
7:40PM0.60m
8:19AM0.47m
8:28PM0.49m
8:55AM0.36m
9:05PM0.39m
9:26AM0.26m
9:37PM0.31m
9:55AM0.17m
10:08PM0.24m
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
mod rain
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:54
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:21
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
 mm
2
2
3
3
12
6
3
4
Temp °C
19
20
19
16
17
16
17
18
16
17
20
18
23
21
19
19
18
17
17
17
18
Feels °C
17
18
17
9
11
14
16
16
14
13
14
13
20
15
16
17
15
14
13
12
13
  • 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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