Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, S swell with 2,289 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s 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 (Jul 12) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s. 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 2.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 2.2m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Whale Rock. This is a tricky reef setup for advanced surfers only, and it’s inconsistent. The water temp is sitting at 71° which is pretty much average for this time of year.
The first real chance to get wet comes Sunday morning, July 12th. That’s the standout of the early run. We’re looking at 5 ft of swell out of the south with a nice 12-second period, and the wind is glassy, absolutely dead calm. It’s clean as a whistle, and the combined energy is a solid moderate 652. This is your window. After that, the wind gets messy and the surf quality drops right off.
Monday the 13th has a bit of size, 7 ft, but it’s short-period east windswell at 8 seconds and the wind is cross. It’s a bit of a mess. Tuesday morning the 14th is glassy again with 6 ft of east swell, but the tide and shape are questionable. The rest of that week is a mix of cross-shore breezes and marginal waves, nothing to get excited about.
The second week gets a bit wild. Around Wednesday, July 22nd, we get a big pulse of 12 ft out of the south-southwest at 12 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore at 12 mph. That’s a lot of energy (4,397) but it’s going to be choppy and messy – only for the brave and the experienced. That same swell peaks on Saturday, July 26th, with 10 ft of south-southwest groundswell at 14 seconds, but again the wind is cross-shore, so it’s lumpy and not clean. For a reef break like this, a long period south swell is a positive, but the wind is the spoiler.
Overall, if you’re an advanced surfer and you’re keen, the absolute best bet is that Sunday morning, July 12th. Glassy, clean, good size. After that, it’s a lot of waiting and hoping for the wind to play nice. Be aware, crowds are possible here.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | SSW 12 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 15 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 650 | 368 | 338 | 553 | 507 | 206 | 588 | 593 | 490 | 482 | 504 | 461 | 402 | 340 | 394 | 234 | 722 | 1804 | 789 | 1525 | 1759 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:22PM1.36m | 2:41AM1.54m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:09AM0.29m | 8:22PM0.30m | 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 | |||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | |
 | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — |
 | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 7 | E 8 | S 11 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 15 | S 14 |
| kJ | 650 | 368 | 263 | 337 | 184 | 286 | 588 | 593 | 490 | 482 | 504 | 461 | 402 | 340 | 394 | 234 | 722 | 1804 | 789 | 1525 | 1759 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SE 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | — | SE 8 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 15 | SW 13 | SW 15 | E 10 | E 10 | S 15 | S 11 | E 9 |
| kJ | 26 | 100 | 268 | 194 | — | 206 | 42 | 27 | 23 | 28 | 16 | 7 | 37 | 144 | 142 | 106 | 194 | 162 | 452 | 269 | 85 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 7 | S 15 | S 13 | — | SSW 10 | S 10 | SW 10 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SW 16 | SW 9 | S 10 | — | — | — | E 10 | — | SW 15 |
| kJ | — | 89 | 17 | 55 | — | 85 | 28 | 25 | 16 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 69 | 20 | 2 | — | — | — | 123 | — | 35 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | ENE 4 | SW 3 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | — | E 5 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 299 | 338 | 553 | 507 | 506 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 15 | 4 | 103 | 293 | — | — | 112 | 227 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 238 | 0 | 11 | 113 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 143 | 0 | 39 | 643 | 39 | 621 | 289 | 412 |
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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