Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,606 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s 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 (Aug 30) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’ve got.
First up, Whale Rock, a serious reef break for the advanced crew. It’s an inconsistent spot, so you gotta be patient. The water temp is about average for the season.
Right now, we’re staring at a rough start. From Thursday, August 27th through to Saturday the 29th, it’s cross-onshore wind and messy. The combined swell energy is huge, but it’s a big, blown-out mess with a 7ft to 2ft southerly swell. Not worth paddling out.
Sunday the 30th is a little better but still not great. The morning is cross-shore and lumpy with a 6ft, 7-second SSW swell. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-offshore wind, but it’s still just a 6ft, 8-second swell. Not a standout.
Here’s the bright spot. Monday, August 31st morning is glassy. Absolutely glassy. A 3ft SSW swell with a 9-second period, and the surf is good. The combined energy is moderate. This is your best bet in the first week. It’s small, but clean and lined up. Expect some crowds.
After that, it goes quiet. Tuesday the 1st of September is tiny and choppy. Wednesday the 2nd brings a bigger 6ft, 14-second SSW swell, but the wind is fresh and cross-shore, making it lumpy.
Thursday the 3rd of September has a glassy afternoon with a 4ft, 11-second SSW swell. It’s good, but small.
Then the big one. Friday, September 4th is a write-off – a 23ft SSE swell with 25 mph cross-onshore winds. That’s a kite-surfing day. Same for the afternoon.
Saturday, September 5th morning is the standout. Clean with a cross-offshore wind and a 15ft, 10-second east swell. The energy is massive. This is expert-only territory – over 8ft, so it’s for the brave. The period is short, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but the power is unreal. The afternoon drops to 13ft, but the wind turns cross-on.
Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th are still big, with 7ft to 12ft east and ESE swells, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, making it messy.
After that, it drops off. By the 9th and 10th of September, it’s back to small, weak swells and poor conditions.
Bottom line: the first week is mostly a bust except for that glassy Monday morning. The real standout is the Saturday, September 5th morning at Whale Rock – huge, powerful, and clean, but only for the experts. The second week looks quiet.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat night, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 14 | S 13 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2606 | 1397 | 1237 | 704 | 416 | 342 | 327 | 232 | 137 | 118 | 307 | 427 | 391 | 166 | 112 | 109 | 61 | 82 | 225 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:22AM1.54m | 3:43PM1.62m | 3:49AM1.61m | 4:09PM1.71m | 4:16AM1.66m | 4:35PM1.77m | 4:44AM1.67m | 5:02PM1.78m | 5:12AM1.64m | 5:31PM1.75m | 5:42AM1.57m | 6:02PM1.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:19PM0.25m | 9:30AM0.11m | 9:46PM0.15m | 9:55AM0.03m | 10:14PM0.08m | 10:21AM-0.02m | 10:42PM0.04m | 10:48AM-0.03m | 11:10PM0.05m | 11:15AM0.00m | 11:41PM0.09m | 11:45AM0.07m | 00:13AM0.18m | ||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 5:42 | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 9 | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 10 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 9 | S 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 2606 | 1397 | 1237 | 704 | 416 | 342 | 1146 | 232 | 137 | 846 | 512 | 460 | 391 | 225 | 176 | 192 | 141 | 29 | 353 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSE 16 | S 15 | S 12 | SW 14 | SSW 10 | S 11 | SSE 14 | — | ENE 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 222 | 421 | 84 | 170 | 327 | 8 | 10 | 63 | 18 | — | 314 | 166 | 112 | 109 | 61 | 82 | 225 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSE 14 | — | SSE 12 | SSW 11 | SE 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 15 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 18 | — | 15 | 47 | 4 | 38 | 21 | 8 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 46 | 446 | 904 | 808 | 737 | 999 | 1995 | 979 | 1122 | 118 | 307 | 427 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 351 | 587 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 261 | 412 | 434 | 133 | 118 | 186 | 118 | 143 | 461 | 16 | 412 | 533 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 16 | 186 | 266 | 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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