Surf Forecasts:
Dairy Beach (New Pier) surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,062 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dairy Beach (New Pier) this week:
The surf forecast for Dairy Beach (New Pier) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 2.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Dairy Beach (New Pier) in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dairy Beach (New Pier) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let me level with you. The outlook for Dairy Beach (New Pier) for the next 16 days is a proper rollercoaster of near-misses and a couple of windows that are worth the early alarm.
This spot deals mostly with east and southeast swells, but the wind is going to be a serious pain in the neck for most of this run. The water temp is around 70-71°F, about what you’d expect for late summer.
We kick off on Saturday, August 30. It’s not all-time, but there’s something to ride. Saturday morning sees chest-high swell around 5 feet from the ENE, with a 9-second period. The wind is a cross-offshore from the SSW at 18 mph, keeping the surface reasonably clean. The wave energy is moderate (401). It’s surfable, but the report calls it ‘poor surf conditions’. That afternoon, the swell drops a touch to 4 feet from the east, but the period stretches to 10 seconds, giving a bit more shape. Wind stays cross-off, and it’s still just ‘surfable but very ordinary’.
Sunday, August 31 eases up. The wind becomes light, just 6 mph from the SSE, cross-offshore. Swell holds at about 4 feet from the east with a 9-second period. The wave energy is low (226). You’ll find knee-to-waist high waves that are clean, but gutless. Again, the comment says ‘surfable but very ordinary’, so don’t get too excited.
Then we hit a dead zone. Monday, September 1 through to Wednesday, September 3 is mostly a bust with poor surf and messy wind. There’s a tiny blip on Wednesday afternoon, the 2nd, with a 5-foot swell from the south but a short 7-second period, and cross-off winds from the SSE. A weird little window in a flat spell.
Here’s the good part – the one that gets my heart rate up. Thursday, September 4. Friday morning delivers a solid pulse of 10 feet from the SSE, with a 9-second period. The wave energy is strong (1619). And the wind? It’s offshore – a fresh 18 mph from the SSW. That’s big, clean, powerful surf. At over 8 feet, it’s strictly for experts. The afternoon stays decent with 8 feet and cross-off winds, but that morning session is the highlight of the whole forecast.
After that, it goes wonky again. Saturday, September 5 sees a long-period groundswell rolling in from the south, with a 16-second period, but it’s smashed by a strong onshore wind from the NE. Sunday the 6th is the same story – onshore wind ruining an otherwise interesting 12-second swell. It’s a tease.
There is a bit of a cleanup on Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th. Tuesday afternoon the 8th is actually labelled ‘expect good surf conditions’. We have 7 feet from the ENE, a 7-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE. The wave energy is moderate (477). That’s a rare window of clean, head-high surf with friendly wind.
But then it all turns to custard again. Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are back to poor or marginal conditions with fresh winds. Friday the 11th of September sees a massive pulse – 12 feet from the ENE with a 9-second period and a colossal 2304 energy reading – but it’s all ruined by a solid onshore wind from the NE. It’s a total washout for paddling; that’s a day for the kite surfers.
The final weekend, Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th, is the same old tune: decent swell sizes (7 feet to 8 feet) and good energy, but the wind stays onshore and strong. A frustrating end to the window.
So, bottom line: the morning of Friday, September 4 is your best bet – big, clean, offshore power for the experienced. Tuesday afternoon the 8th is the secondary call for intermediate surfers, with manageable size and clean wind. The rest is either flat, blown out, or just not worth the hassle. Keep your wetsuit handy.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the SSW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 6 | E 7 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 6 | E 9 | ENE 7 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
661 | 1087 | 1245 | 352 | 319 | 207 | 202 | 220 | 234 | 190 | 80 | 157 | 92 | 202 | 80 | 40 | 65 | 1952 | 1535 | 888 | 364 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 4:36PM2.08m | 4:45AM1.97m | 5:04PM2.09m | 5:13AM1.95m | 5:32PM2.04m | 5:42AM1.88m | 6:03PM1.95m | 6:14AM1.78m | 6:36PM1.81m | 6:50AM1.63m | 7:14PM1.63m | 7:38AM1.45m | 8:11PM1.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:23AM0.13m | 10:45PM0.19m | 10:51AM0.12m | 11:13PM0.20m | 11:19AM0.15m | 11:42PM0.26m | 11:48AM0.23m | 00:13AM0.35m | 12:20PM0.36m | 00:47AM0.49m | 12:57PM0.54m | 1:31AM0.65m | 1:46PM0.74m | 2:44AM0.82m | |||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 21 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | S 6 | SSW 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | SSW 16 | SSE 9 | SE 8 |
243 | 187 | 757 | 352 | 319 | 207 | 202 | 220 | 234 | 190 | 71 | 157 | 92 | 188 | 80 | 83 | 65 | 62 | 273 | 888 | 364 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SE 6 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 13 | E 9 | E 8 | S 19 | ENE 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 |
— | — | 101 | 41 | 23 | 28 | 24 | 44 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 40 | 74 | 54 | 204 | 40 | 51 | 29 | 32 | 380 | 427 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 10 | SE 15 | SSE 13 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 10 | — | NE 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | — | SSW 19 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
— | — | 4 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 9 | 52 | 8 | — | 37 | 52 | 32 | 49 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 6 | — | SE 5 | NE 3 | — | ENE 6 | — | SSW 7 | S 7 | — | NE 5 | SSW 6 | S 9 | SSE 9 | — | — |
661 | 1087 | 1245 | 360 | 272 | 92 | — | 25 | 2 | — | 80 | — | 384 | 202 | — | 24 | 315 | 1952 | 1535 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 403 | 435 | 0 | 354 | 329 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 237 | 0 | 4 | 39 | 54 | 329 | 54 | 1241 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Dairy Beach (New Pier) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Dairy Beach (New Pier) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Dairy Beach (New Pier) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dairy Beach (New Pier) 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 (Dairy Beach (New Pier)) 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 Dairy Beach (New Pier) 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 Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Dairy Beach (New Pier), camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, consider staying in Durban which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Glenwood which is 6 km (4 miles) away, Kwamashu, Umhlanga and Mount Edgecombe.











