Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, S swell with 6,070 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, listen up. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve got the long-range gen for the rock. To be honest, the next week and a bit is looking like a write-off for getting a proper wave. The forecast is pretty bleak, with most days showing cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. We’re looking at a solid stretch of poor surf, so don't get your hopes up for anything decent until the back half of next week.
The first sign of life comes late on Sunday the 13th. It's not going to be big, but we’ll see a bit of a lift with some 3ft SSW swell and a light offshore wind. The water temperature here is about average for this time of year, so you won't need the thickest suit just yet. This window is short-lived, fading out by Monday morning, and then we're back into the doldrums of cross-shore junk and small, weak swell for a few more days.
The real standout, the one worth circling on the calendar, looks like it's going to be Thursday the 17th into Friday the 18th. That's nine and ten days out, so treat it as a promising set-up rather than a sure thing. We’ve got a bigger pulse of SSW groundswell, with the Thursday afternoon showing a solid 6ft at 15 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, and it’s going to have some grunt behind it. That same S direction is right in the wheelhouse for Whale Rock (Big Island), so the break should be handling it well. The energy is strong too, with combined swell energy hitting 1599 on Thursday arvo.
Friday morning still has some size at 6ft and cleaner, lighter winds, which could be the pick of the bunch. The energy is still solid at 1498. There is decent groundswell, but with that long period, it might be breaking a bit straight at a beach break, but at a reef setup like Whale Rock, it should be better. This is solidly expert territory at that size, and with it being an inconsistent wave, you'll want to know what you're doing. It’s not a beginner wave; it's powerful and for the experienced crew only.
The winds for that Thursday and Friday look like they’ll be workable, with a cross-off or light onshore flow, and not the howling mess we’ve seen earlier. So, keep the faith, don't bother paddling out for the first week, and set your alarm for that Thursday and Friday session next week. It’s got the makings of something decent if it all comes together.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, strong winds from the NE by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | E 10 | SSW 22 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SW 14 | SSE 9 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | S 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 297 | 239 | 1071 | 6070 | 3345 | 1643 | 772 | 194 | 117 | 80 | 62 | 33 | 33 | 17 | 29 | 261 | 146 | 99 | 121 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:43PM1.09m | 12:16PM1.06m | 00:52AM1.19m | 1:33PM1.26m | 1:51AM1.35m | 2:19PM1.46m | 2:33AM1.49m | 2:56PM1.63m | 3:09AM1.60m | 3:29PM1.76m | 3:41AM1.67m | 4:00PM1.82m | 4:12AM1.69m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:39AM0.64m | 6:28PM0.62m | 7:16AM0.48m | 7:43PM0.44m | 8:04AM0.30m | 8:29PM0.27m | 8:41AM0.15m | 9:06PM0.14m | 9:14AM0.03m | 9:39PM0.04m | 9:45AM-0.03m | 10:09PM0.00m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 5:47 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 22 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 7 |
| kJ | 297 | 231 | 1071 | 6070 | 3345 | 1643 | 772 | 194 | 117 | 621 | 62 | 33 | 534 | 315 | 281 | 202 | 146 | 135 | 121 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SE 7 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 12 | SW 16 | SSW 7 | S 7 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 194 | 44 | 167 | — | — | — | 270 | 113 | 58 | 80 | 12 | 11 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 261 | 49 | 63 | 147 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SSW 24 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | S 18 | — | SW 12 | SW 17 | SE 12 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSE 11 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 96 | 230 | 29 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 35 | 11 | 6 | 33 | 15 | 29 | 12 | 146 | 99 | 62 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | — | NE 2 |
| kJ | — | 239 | 175 | 198 | 138 | 309 | 390 | 384 | 578 | 1043 | 471 | 567 | 796 | 19 | 33 | 15 | 73 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 25 | 289 | 289 | 289 | 305 | 289 | 266 | 186 | 412 | 70 | 133 | 266 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 154 | 154 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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