
Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 14s period, S swell with 2,103 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. 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 2.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at how the surf’s shaping up for Whale Rock over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag on the cards. The first proper nod for a paddle comes Tuesday morning, 14 July. That’s where the week starts to look a little interesting. Tuesday morning is the standout – clean, glassy conditions with a 7ft easterly swell, period around 9 seconds, and the combined energy hitting 734 (moderate). The wind is glass, so the surface will be a dream. That’s the best window across the whole outlook, no question.
The swell is a bit short-period, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but for a reef break like Whale Rock, that’s still going to push through with some shape. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is about average for this time of year, no surprises there.
Tuesday afternoon stays clean on the surface but the wind shifts cross-on, so it won’t be as tidy. Wednesday morning (15 July) has a similar size swell coming from the east at 6ft, period 10 seconds, and a cross-off breeze – clean enough to ride, but the scores say it’s marginal. The energy is moderate (581). Thursday has a similar story, drop in size to 5ft, still east, still light cross-on breeze.
Friday (17 July) drops right off. Swell fades to 4ft by the morning and 2ft by the afternoon, and the wind gets messy. Saturday (18 July) sees a spike in swell – 8ft from the south with a 14-second period, energy 2222 (strong) – but the wind is howling onshore at 22 mph, making it a total washout. That’s kite-surfing territory, not a paddle.
Sunday and Monday (19-20 July) are quiet, with small swell and mediocre conditions. Then Tuesday 21 July has a tiny 2ft south swell but with a very long 19-second period – that’s a groundswell, but it’s barely there, and the wind is cross. The energy is weak (343).
Wednesday 22 July afternoon is another highlight: glassy, 5ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, energy 943 (moderate). That’s a clean, long-period swell – perfect for a reef like this. The conditions are ideal, no wind ripples. That’s your second-best window.
After that, it’s mostly a write-off. Strong winds, onshore, choppy, and small swell dominate from 23 July through to 27 July. There’s a gap of about four days with nothing worth getting excited about.
Then we get a final glimpse on Tuesday morning, 28 July – a 6ft swell from the southwest, 10-second period, glassy, energy 910 (moderate). That’s a promising but distant call – it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it. The afternoon turns messy again.
Whale Rock is an advanced reef break and it’s inconsistent, so when you get a clean window like Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon, you’ve got to jump on it. Crowds are possible here, but with the inconsistency, you might have it to yourself.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NE by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
251 | 358 | 500 | 664 | 678 | 666 | 557 | 514 | 470 | 479 | 410 | 347 | 239 | 209 | 1801 | 2078 | 1866 | 1083 | 687 | 494 | 353 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:13PM1.49m | 3:30AM1.62m | 3:59PM1.61m | 4:14AM1.65m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:00AM0.17m | 9:16PM0.19m | 9:45AM0.08m | 10:04PM0.13m | 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 | |||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
— | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 11 | S 10 |
251 | 287 | 500 | 664 | 678 | 666 | 557 | 514 | 470 | 479 | 410 | 347 | 239 | 198 | 1801 | 2078 | 1866 | 1083 | 687 | 494 | 353 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 11 | E 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 |
194 | 191 | 85 | 28 | 27 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 41 | 154 | 68 | 178 | 54 | 209 | 158 | 122 | 59 | 251 | 151 | 108 | 85 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | — | SSE 10 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | S 9 | SW 14 | SSE 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | SW 10 | E 9 | SW 12 | SE 13 |
55 | — | 10 | 42 | 25 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 26 | 140 | 2 | 32 | 164 | — | — | — | 37 | 63 | 6 | 142 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | S 4 | SW 6 | — | ENE 3 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | SW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
— | 358 | 336 | — | — | — | 4 | 9 | 32 | — | 3 | — | 27 | 112 | — | 22 | 254 | 359 | 6 | 51 | 67 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 43 | 289 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 186 | 0 | 372 | 500 | 1 | 238 | 289 | 0 | 20 | 23 | 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.










