Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.5° 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 22 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with 4,641 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s. 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 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM. 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sat 22nd Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 12s
Best Surf 8PM (Tue 25th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 17s
Most Powerful 5PM (Wed 26th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. This is a tricky one. We’re looking at Whale Rock, and to be honest, the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag. The water is sitting at 71°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a nice little bonus.

The outlook starts with a bit of a dud on Friday the 21st. The wind is coming from the ENE at 6 mph, pushing across the wave face, and the swell is a weak 4 ft from the SSW. The combined energy is only 459 (weak), and it’s just not doing anything for us. Nothing to get excited about.

Saturday morning the 22nd is where it gets interesting. We get a window of pure magic. The wind is glassy—dead calm, S at 3 mph, absolutely perfect. The swell is 4 ft from the SSW with a long 14-second period, giving it a bit of punch. The combined energy sits at 590 (moderate). This is the standout of the whole forecast. If you can get out there Saturday morning, you’ll be in for clean, well-shaped waves. It’s an advanced reef break that’s inconsistent, so it won’t be crowded, but you’ll need to be patient for the sets. This is the one.

The rest of the weekend and into the week is a write-off. Saturday afternoon sees a near gale from the SW at 34 mph, with a messy 10 ft SSW swell that has a short period of 7 seconds—more of a washing machine than a wave. Sunday and Monday are both cross-shore and choppy, with weak energy. The surf is poor.

Things start to look a bit more promising around Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th. The swell builds, with a long 15-16 second period from the SSW and S, and the combined energy jumps into the strong range (919 on Tuesday morning, 1035 on Tuesday afternoon, and a massive 1713 on Wednesday morning). The problem is the wind. It’s cross-onshore, starting light but getting stronger, and by Wednesday afternoon it’s a 16 mph ENE, making it choppy and messy. For a reef break, you need clean conditions, and you won’t get them here. The size gets up to 8 ft, which is expert territory, but the wind wrecks it.

Thursday the 27th is a total no-go with fresh to strong onshore winds and lumpy, messy surf. The energy is massive (3774 Thursday morning), but it’s all for nothing.

Finally, we get another brief window on Friday the 28th. The afternoon looks good. The wind swings to the SW at 6 mph, becoming cross-offshore, and the swell is 5 ft from the S with a 13-second period. The combined energy is 658 (moderate). The conditions are clean, and it’s another chance for a decent wave. It’s not as perfect as the Saturday morning glass-off, but it’s worth a look if you missed the main event.

After that, it’s a slow fade. The surf drops off through the end of August and into the first week of September. The swell direction gets weird, the periods get short, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore from the ENE. The energy stays low (mostly under 300), and the waves are poor. There’s a small window of clean surf on the 30th, but it’s with a fresh 19-25 mph SW wind, which makes the 8-8 ft swell a bit of a handful for paddle surfing. It might be more of a kite day.

So, the bottom line: Saturday morning the 22nd is your best bet. It’s the only true glass-off with a solid, long-period swell. Friday afternoon the 28th is the backup. After that, you’re waiting for a change in the pattern.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue morning, strong winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon).

Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
0
1
3
0
2
2
1
2
1
3
4
3
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSW
12
1.1
SSW
14
3
SSW
7
2.1
SSW
9
2
SSW
9
1.4
SSW
10
1
SSW
10
0.8
SSW
10
0.5
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
16
1.4
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
16
1.6
SSW
16
2
S
17
3
S
17
2.5
SSW
16
1.8
S
13
2.1
S
17
1.9
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
313
500
817
745
589
386
210
109
115
193
879
1245
1327
2470
4641
2831
1103
2463
1817
Wind (km/h)
20
NNE
5
S
55
SW
30
WSW
20
SW
10
S
10
NNW
5
ESE
10
SSW
10
W
10
S
15
S
10
WNW
5
SE
25
ENE
30
NE
35
NE
40
ENE
30
NE
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
9:52PM0.99m
12:26PM0.93m
00:56AM1.04m
1:47PM1.06m
1:52AM1.18m
2:23PM1.22m
2:26AM1.31m
2:51PM1.36m
2:55AM1.43m
3:17PM1.50m
3:22AM1.54m
3:43PM1.62m
3:49AM1.61m
Low Tide
5:18AM0.75m
6:19PM0.76m
7:33AM0.63m
7:45PM0.63m
8:11AM0.49m
8:22PM0.50m
8:39AM0.35m
8:51PM0.37m
9:05AM0.22m
9:19PM0.25m
9:30AM0.11m
9:46PM0.15m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:38
5:39
5:39
5:40
5:42
5:42
5:43
 mm
Temp °C
19
23
21
19
19
19
18
19
19
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
20
20
19
Feels °C
18
23
16
12
15
15
18
18
18
16
17
17
17
18
15
14
16
14
14
  • 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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