Surf Forecasts:
Amanzimtoti surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with 2,639 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Amanzimtoti this week:
The surf forecast for Amanzimtoti over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Amanzimtoti in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Amanzimtoti over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for the Toti stretch over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you—the outlook is pretty grim. We're looking at a long stretch of poor conditions for most of the period. There’s no surf to speak of right from the start, with the first real chance of anything decent looking like it might be a long way off. The combined swell energy is moderate at best, pushing into the hundreds on the Thursday, but it's all blown out.
Thursday morning the 20th has some swell, but with a raw 19 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s gonna be a bumpy, lumpy mess. Not your day. That afternoon settles a bit wind-wise, but the damage is done—still poor.
We get a little hint of something on Friday the 21st morning. A long period groundswell from the SSW (13 seconds) is pushing through 5ft, but it’s cross-shore and the score is low. The combo of that long period and the cross wind makes the lineup messy. The energy reading is high but without the right wind, it doesn’t matter.
The weekend is a write-off. Saturday the 22nd morning is clean but tiny at 3ft, and by the afternoon a strong 25 mph cross-onshore is making it nasty. Sunday the 23rd has a solid 10ft SSW pulse but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s looking heavy and choppy. That size is only for experts, and still not clean. Later that day it goes onshore but drops in size.
The start of next week, Monday the 24th, is the only time I’d give a nod to. Morning wind is light and cross-shore, with a 5ft S groundswell at 12 seconds. Combined energy is moderate. It’s still a marginal call, but if you’re keen, this is likely your best shot for a surfable window. The crowds at Amanzimtoti (South Africa) can show up sometimes, so don't expect to have it to yourself. The water temp is about average for late winter.
The rest of the week goes downhill fast. Tuesday the 25th sees moderate cross-onshore winds and messy surf, even though the energy is high from a very long period 18-second SSW swell. That long period is better for a point or reef, but Toti’s a beach and reef mix, so it could be breaking a bit fat and tricky.
From Wednesday the 26th through to the end of the 16 days, it’s a mess of fresh cross-shore winds, lumpy conditions, and no real standouts. There are sizes around 3ft to 5ft, but the wind is almost always wrong. The energy is moderate to strong but it’s not translating to ridable waves.
Honestly, for this stretch, the setup with that much wind and swell on a beach-and-reef setup would probably be far more interesting to the kite surfing crowd than us paddle surfers.
To sum it up: the first week is mostly a bust. Monday the 24th morning is your only realistic look-in. After that, we’re staring down a barrel of poor conditions through to the first week of September. The area just isn't offering much for the foreseeable future. If you’re not desperate, give it a miss.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat night, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
437 | 605 | 302 | 2054 | 880 | 514 | 303 | 265 | 795 | 2639 | 1426 | 589 | 452 | 528 | 437 | 717 | 783 | 799 | 1714 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 7:34AM1.20m | 8:02PM1.20m | 8:21AM1.05m | 9:30PM1.05m | 12:09PM0.98m | 00:56AM1.09m | 1:47PM1.12m | 1:55AM1.24m | 2:24PM1.29m | 2:29AM1.39m | 2:52PM1.45m | 2:58AM1.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:38AM0.57m | 1:43PM0.60m | 2:24AM0.71m | 2:38PM0.76m | 4:48AM0.81m | 6:12PM0.82m | 7:31AM0.70m | 7:46PM0.68m | 8:12AM0.54m | 8:23PM0.53m | 8:40AM0.39m | 8:53PM0.39m | |||||||
— | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
5:32 | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 28 | 31 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 21 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 26 | 29 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 |
137 | 229 | 149 | 2054 | 880 | 514 | 303 | 265 | 129 | 28 | 939 | 589 | 452 | 528 | 437 | 717 | 783 | 799 | 1714 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | SSW 15 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | SSW 14 | E 9 |
— | 35 | 34 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 12 | — | — | — | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 130 | 6 | 3 | 549 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 7 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 9 | — | S 18 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 | SE 13 |
— | 12 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | 6 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | S 8 | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | — |
437 | 605 | 302 | — | — | 2 | 29 | 164 | 795 | 2639 | 1426 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 27 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 85 | 254 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 831 | 258 | 211 | 26 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 182 | 263 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Amanzimtoti Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Amanzimtoti provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Amanzimtoti can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Amanzimtoti 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 (Amanzimtoti) 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 Amanzimtoti 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.
Amanzimtoti is 9 km (6 miles) from Umlazi. If you plan a holiday in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Umlazi. Umlazi has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











