Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with 6,033 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period with S 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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 11s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into what’s cookin’ over at Whale Rock.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The first few days are pretty grim, with onshore winds messing up a weak, short-period swell. Nothing worth paddling out for on the 5th or the 6th, but hold tight.
Come Sunday morning, the 6th of September, things take a turn for the better. We get a glassy 3ft swell from the south, and while it’s not huge, the energy is moderate. The wind is dead calm, so it’ll be clean. That’s your first real window.
Then, Monday the 7th sees a big jump in size – a solid 8ft from the south with a very long period of 16 seconds, packing serious energy. This is advanced territory, no doubt. The swell direction is good for Whale Rock, but the cross-onshore winds are a letdown, turning it messy. If you’re an expert and can handle the chop, there’s power there, but it won’t be pretty.
The rest of that week into the 10th is a write-off – tiny waves and rubbish wind. The standout, and I mean the *real* standout, is looking like Monday afternoon, the 14th of September. The wind goes glassy, and we get a clean 6ft swell from the east, period around 10 seconds. The energy is solid. It says “expect very good surf conditions,” and for this spot, that’s a gem. This is your best bet in the whole outlook – a proper session on offer.
Tuesday the 15th keeps that glassy theme going with a smaller morning swell, but nothing beats that Monday afternoon.
Beyond that, the 16th and 17th get blown out by strong winds, and the end of the run into the 20th is just wind-affected and messy.
So, to sum it up: suffer through the first week, and you’ll be rewarded on Monday the 14th. That’s the one to mark on the calendar.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, strong winds from the NE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Tue afternoon, light winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 22 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SW 14 | SSE 9 | SSW 21 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | S 7 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 505 | 381 | 297 | 221 | 1071 | 5755 | 3345 | 1809 | 772 | 170 | 108 | 80 | 62 | 33 | 33 | 17 | 43 | 344 | 188 | 172 | 145 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:14AM1.01m | 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 | 3:33PM0.67m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 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 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 22 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 7 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 505 | 381 | 297 | 221 | 1071 | 5755 | 3345 | 1809 | 772 | 104 | 108 | 694 | 62 | 33 | 617 | 397 | 337 | 254 | 177 | 103 | 145 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SSW 12 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 140 | 258 | 200 | 198 | 167 | — | — | — | — | 170 | 82 | 80 | 12 | 11 | 31 | 17 | 23 | 344 | 188 | 146 | 147 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 12 | S 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 21 | SE 13 | SSE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 36 | 52 | 84 | 43 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 6 | 10 | 33 | 16 | 43 | 27 | 15 | 136 | 67 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | ENE 10 | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | S 7 | — |
| kJ | 39 | 294 | — | — | 175 | 169 | 108 | 290 | 369 | 365 | 705 | 1136 | 534 | 657 | 1022 | 24 | 24 | 10 | 48 | 172 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 289 | 289 | 3 | 0 | 289 | 70 | 292 | 398 | 266 | 186 | 412 | 70 | 221 | 186 | 16 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 47 |
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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