
Surf Forecasts:
Alkantstrand surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, S swell with 3,213 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Alkantstrand this week:
The surf forecast for Alkantstrand over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Alkantstrand in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Alkantstrand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the outlook for Alkantstrand.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a few small windows of clean, rideable surf early on, but the real story is a massive pulse of swell that hits next week. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Friday the 7th starts things off mellow. Morning brings some clouds with a small 2ft SSW groundswell, period a long 14 seconds, and a cross-off breeze keeping it clean. The combined energy is weak (280). It’s not big, but it’s rideable. The afternoon cleans up to clear skies, still a small 2ft SSW swell (248 energy), and still cross-off. Not a standout, but a good warm-up.
Saturday the 8th is a write-off. Strong onshore winds from the NNE and NE wreck everything. Swell bumps up to 2ft with a very long 16-second period from the S, but the wind kills it. Poor conditions all day.
Sunday the 9th bounces back. Morning is clean with a light cross-off breeze and a 2ft SSW swell (214 energy). Afternoon gets a bit windier with a moderate breeze, but the swell is still 2ft with a long 16-second period from the SSW (283 energy). It’s marginal but workable.
Monday the 10th – hold onto your board. This is where it gets heavy. The swell jumps to a solid 13ft from the SSW in the morning, dropping to 10ft in the afternoon from the S. The combined wave energy is massive – 2990 and 1778 respectively. This is expert-only territory. The winds are strong cross-off, so it’s clean, but this is way too big for beginners. The short 9-10 second period means it’s a windswell, and it’s going to be a beast. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most folks.
Tuesday the 11th stays big and mean. 8ft swell from the S in the morning, shifting to SSE in the afternoon. Energy is still very high (1245 and 1311). Still clean with cross-off winds, but still a strong, short-period windswell. Experts only.
Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th continue the big swell run. We’re looking at 8ft to 10ft swells from the SE with energy over 1000. Thursday afternoon actually turns glassy offshore with a light SW wind and 8ft SE swell (1112 energy). If you’re an expert and can handle it, that’s the cleanest window in this whole big-wave stretch.
Friday the 14th is the first real standout for experienced surfers. Morning sees 7ft from the ESE with light offshore winds and 1125 energy. Excellent conditions. Afternoon holds 8ft but gets a light cross-onshore breeze. Still solid.
Saturday the 15th morning is a moment of pure glass. The wind is dead calm, glassy, with a powerful 10ft ESE groundswell (1901 energy). This is a rare, clean, massive day – but again, it’s only for experts.
From Sunday the 16th onward, the energy drops off and the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore. Swells drop from 7ft down to 3ft, but with poor wind conditions. Wednesday the 19th offers a brief clean-up with a 5ft E swell and light cross-off winds (370 energy), but it’s not a standout.
The best on offer: For the everyday surfer, Friday morning the 7th and Sunday morning the 9th are your small, clean windows. For the experts, Friday morning the 14th is the best combination of size, clean conditions, and manageable energy. The glassy Saturday morning the 15th is a pure power session for the brave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sun night, moderate winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | E 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
116 | 115 | 137 | 157 | 106 | 190 | 167 | 110 | 198 | 1182 | 2947 | 1701 | 2124 | 1064 | 962 | 1044 | 1247 | 1042 | 1274 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:47PM1.46m | 9:18AM1.27m | 10:29PM1.34m | 11:37AM1.22m | 00:37AM1.39m | 1:24PM1.37m | 1:54AM1.54m | 2:25PM1.59m | 2:45AM1.71m | 3:10PM1.79m | 3:26AM1.85m | 3:49PM1.95m | 4:02AM1.94m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:12AM0.66m | 3:39PM0.66m | 5:10AM0.72m | 5:52PM0.68m | 7:05AM0.61m | 7:31PM0.54m | 8:10AM0.42m | 8:31PM0.36m | 8:55AM0.23m | 9:16PM0.21m | 9:34AM0.08m | 9:55PM0.10m | |||||||
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
5:22 | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 22 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 |
109 | 109 | 81 | 83 | 90 | 92 | 89 | 89 | 81 | 58 | 43 | 58 | 66 | 133 | 268 | 306 | 199 | 265 | 130 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | NNE 5 | — | S 15 | — | SSW 16 | E 9 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 24 | SSW 22 |
116 | 115 | 137 | 157 | 106 | 190 | 167 | 110 | 198 | 3 | — | 19 | — | 48 | 81 | 138 | 21 | 11 | 46 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 11 | S 7 | NE 6 | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | S 26 | SW 24 | — |
8 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 103 | 43 | 4 | 15 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 60 | 13 | 23 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 6 | — | NE 2 | NE 4 | NE 5 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
59 | 50 | 27 | — | 2 | 35 | 49 | 6 | 15 | 1182 | 2947 | 1701 | 2124 | 1064 | 962 | 1044 | 1247 | 1042 | 1274 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 157 | 373 | 117 | 0 | 2481 | 1014 | 484 | 440 | 440 | 484 | 1057 | 155 | 155 | 99 | 37 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Alkantstrand Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Alkantstrand provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Alkantstrand can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Alkantstrand 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 (Alkantstrand) 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 Alkantstrand 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.
Are you planning a holiday in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Alkantstrand, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, consider staying in Richards Bay which is 1 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around KwaZulu-Natal North Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Richards Bay which is 1 km (1 miles) away, Empangeni, eSikhawini and Eshowe.











