Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
20.4°C
0.0° 

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 31 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with 6,062 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period. 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Tue 1st Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 13s
Best Surf 8PM (Tue 1st Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 13s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sun 6th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Gather 'round, surfers. Rusty here. I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window for Whale Rock is a tough one to call. The long-range picture shows a few pulses of energy, but the wind and conditions are almost always working against us. The water temp is sitting right about where it should be for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

Let's start with the first real event on Tuesday, September 2nd. We get a bump in swell in the afternoon, with a 5ft groundswell from the SSW with a long 15-second period. The energy is moderate (992). The big issue is that the wind is onshore from the ESE, described as "questionable tide conditions." It's a marginal call at best, and the swell direction isn't ideal for the spot, which likes it from the S. It's not a standout.

The next morning, Thursday, September 3rd, has a little leftover energy, 3ft from the SSW, but the wind is a light cross-shore from the S. The wave energy is weak (206). It's a marginal look, but nothing to get excited about.

Things go south quickly. We get a massive swell on Friday, September 4th, with a 15ft SSE swell and a 13ft pulse in the afternoon. The energy is very strong (4457 and 2840), but it's also heavy rain with a fresh cross-onshore wind. This is a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one. The swell is too big and messy for anyone but the most experienced, and even then, it's not clean.

The following week is a write-off. There's a huge 8ft S swell on Sunday, September 6th, with a very long 18-second period, but the energy is extreme (5491) and it's accompanied by light rain and a moderate cross-onshore wind. The wind ruins it. Then on Monday, September 7th, we have a 8ft S swell, but it's a fresh cross-onshore gale from the NE. The whole period from the 4th to the 10th is a mix of poor surf, strong winds, and onshore conditions.

There's a faint glimmer of hope on Sunday, September 13th. The morning has a 5ft S swell with a light cross-shore wind from the SSW, and the afternoon is similar with a 4ft S swell. The energy is moderate (443 and 379). It's a "marginal" call due to tide, but it's the closest we get to a clean window. Even so, the swell direction is more S than the ideal SSW, and the wind is cross-onshore in the afternoon.

The last day, Wednesday, September 16th, has a 2ft SSW swell with a very long 17-second period. The energy is weak (204), and the wind is a light cross-onshore from the NE. It's marginal, but it's a long-period groundswell that might offer a few clean runners if the tide is right. It's a long shot.

Honestly, there's nothing to recommend here. The wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell direction is rarely optimal. Even when the swell is big, the conditions are blown out. This is a tough period for Whale Rock, and the outlook is bleak. It's one of those stretches where you're better off checking the forecast again in a few days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SW by Thu afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 73mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu night, min 17°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
7
0.3
SW
14
0.6
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
11
1.6
S
6
4.5
SSE
11
4
SSE
10
3
SE
9
1.7
SSE
8
1.5
E
10
1.5
E
8
1
S
16
2.5
S
18
3
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
28
31
120
321
742
904
453
206
173
160
4457
2833
1215
390
407
297
535
5060
4586
Wind (km/h)
5
WNW
5
SSE
10
ENE
5
WSW
25
SSW
15
ESE
20
NNE
10
S
30
SW
5
SW
30
SE
30
ESE
25
E
20
ENE
25
E
15
SE
25
S
20
SSE
25
E
Wind State
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
on
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:42AM1.57m
6:02PM1.67m
6:14AM1.47m
6:36PM1.54m
6:50AM1.33m
7:17PM1.38m
7:37AM1.16m
8:19PM1.19m
9:14AM1.01m
10:43PM1.09m
12:16PM1.06m
00:52AM1.19m
Low Tide
11:41PM0.09m
11:45AM0.07m
00:13AM0.18m
12:18PM0.18m
00:49AM0.31m
12:55PM0.33m
1:36AM0.46m
1:46PM0.51m
2:53AM0.62m
3:33PM0.67m
5:39AM0.64m
6:28PM0.62m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
light rain
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:15
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:47
5:49
 mm
18
27
3
2
2
15
4
2
Temp °C
17
20
20
18
19
19
19
25
26
20
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
17
17
Feels °C
17
20
20
20
17
18
16
25
26
21
13
13
14
16
16
16
13
13
13
  • 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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