Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
20.5° C
0.3° 

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 15 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SSW swell with 3,115 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 15th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 10s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 16th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 8PM (Tue 21st Jul)8ft (2.5m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Alright, we’ve got a bit of a slow starter here. The first decent window is Wednesday morning but it’s only a 2 out of 10, so let’s be real – it’s a bit of a marginal session. The first real standout is going to be a little further out.

For the first proper good surf, you’re looking at Thursday morning the 16th at Whale Rock. This is a reef break, so you need to know what you’re doing – it’s for advanced surfers only. The swell is coming from the east at 5 ft, with a period of 11 seconds, giving it some decent push. The combined energy is moderate (587). Water temp is sitting at 70°, which is about normal for this time of year. The wind is glassy, pure offshore from the SSE at 3 mph, so the surface will be super clean. It’s not the biggest swell, but it’s a nice, clean combo. Keep in mind it’s inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but when they come, they’ll be worth it.

The Thursday afternoon the 16th session is a bit smaller at 4 ft, and the wind swings cross-on, so it’s less appealing. The Friday the 17th is a drop-off, with 4 ft and a cross-shore wind, so nothing special.

Now, Saturday morning the 18th has a 4 ft south swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is cross-on from the NE at 9 mph, and the combined energy is moderate (778). The commentary says “poor surf conditions,” so give it a miss.

The next real standout is Monday morning the 20th. Early session, the swell drops to 4 ft, but it’s coming from the SSW at 12 seconds, and the wind is glassy from the SSE at 3 mph. Combined energy is moderate (670). This is clean, smooth, and the commentary says “expect very good surf conditions.” It’s a small wave, but for a log or a fish, it’ll be super fun. The crowd profile says “sometimes,” so it’s not a zoo, but you might have a few friends out.

The biggest highlight of the whole forecast is Wednesday morning the 22nd. Whale Rock is going to see a 6 ft SSW swell, with a 14-second period, so it’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong (1465). The wind is glassy from the east at 3 mph. The commentary says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a top-tier call. The long period groundswell will be breaking a bit straight on a beach break, but here at a reef, it’ll hold up nicely. If you’re an advanced surfer, this is the morning to circle.

Thursday the 23rd gets a bit wild. The morning has a 8 ft SSW swell, with 8-second period, so it’s a short-period, chunky windswell, and the wind is cross-off from the SW at 16 mph. The combined energy is moderate (868), but it’s a bit messy. The afternoon jumps to 12 ft from the SSW at 13 seconds, with a fresh cross-shore wind of 19 mph. Combined energy is massive (4511). That’s a lot of power, but it’s not clean – more of a specialist session for the chargers.

Friday the 24th morning has a 7 ft SSW swell, 15-second period, and a cross-shore wind from the NE. Combined energy is strong (2005). It’s a powerful swell, but the wind isn’t perfect. The afternoon drops to 6 ft with a 16-second period, but the wind goes cross-on, so it’s a write-off.

From Saturday the 25th through to the end of the month, the swell stays small, mostly under 5 ft, and the wind is often cross or onshore. There’s a small window on Tuesday morning the 28th with a 4 ft SSW swell and a 19-second period, which is a very long period, but the wind is cross-shore. The energy is moderate (908). For a small wave, the period is interesting, but it’s not going to be a classic.

The final week has a few small pulses, but nothing that screams “go.” The cleanest conditions are gone, and the onshore winds take over. The last few days, from the 27th on, are mostly poor.

So, your best bet in the whole 16-day window is Wednesday morning the 22nd for the experienced crew, and Monday morning the 20th for a smaller, cleaner session. Thursday morning the 16th is the first decent one but it’s inconsistent. The second week is a bit of a write-off, with small, poor conditions.

Stay safe out there, and paddle hard.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Sun morning).

Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
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
2
3
3
2
3
2
2
1
2
3
3
1
0
3
0
0
0
3
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
E
10
1.6
E
10
1.7
E
11
1.8
SW
10
1
SSW
14
1.2
E
10
1.1
E
10
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
0.7
S
13
1.2
S
12
1.3
S
11
1.1
S
11
2.5
SSW
7
1.9
SSW
10
1.1
SSW
10
0.9
SSW
10
1.2
SSW
12
1.8
SSW
7
2.5
SSW
13
2.4
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
650
514
663
667
400
284
237
237
196
167
403
387
286
671
712
265
180
393
334
2213
2478
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
15
S
10
WNW
10
S
5
SSE
5
NW
5
S
5
E
10
NNE
5
NNE
5
N
5
W
35
SW
25
SSW
10
W
20
NE
25
NE
25
SW
15
SSW
5
SE
15
N
Wind State
cross
cross
off
cross
cross-on
off
glassy
glassy
cross
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
High Tide
4:42PM1.68m
4:55AM1.65m
5:23PM1.71m
5:33AM1.60m
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
Low Tide
10:26AM0.02m
10:48PM0.10m
11:05AM0.00m
11:30PM0.13m
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
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:00
7:00
6:58
6:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:17
5:19
5:19
 mm
Temp °C
18
19
18
19
19
17
19
20
18
24
25
21
19
20
18
20
23
22
17
18
17
Feels °C
16
18
17
18
18
17
18
19
18
21
22
19
15
15
15
17
19
19
15
16
16
  • 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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