
Surf Forecasts:
Dairy Beach (New Pier) surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SE swell with 2,089 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with ESE 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 9s. 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 12s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dairy Beach (New Pier) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on the cards for Dairy Beach (New Pier). The next couple of weeks are a bit of a rollercoaster, but there are a few windows where it’ll be worth suiting up.
The first real action kicks off on Saturday, August 1st. Early morning brings some clouds, a moderate SSW breeze blowing offshore, and a solid 7ft SE swell rolling in with a 9-second period. The wave energy is moderate (783), and the combo of offshore wind and clean conditions means the surf should be pretty good. This is a consistent intermediate spot, fairly exposed to the swell, and it’s drawing from the east – the optimum direction. Crowds are often here, so expect company. The water temp is about average for this time of year. By Saturday afternoon, the wind swings S and picks up to 16 mph, turning cross-offshore, and the swell pushes to 8ft SE with a 10-second period and stronger energy (988). The surf gets a bit more marginal, but still rideable.
Sunday morning, August 2nd, offers clear skies with a gentle 9 mph SSW cross-offshore breeze. The swell is up to 8ft SE, period stretching to 11 seconds, and the energy jumps to 1834 – solid moderate-strong stuff. The waves will have more shape, but the cross-off wind might keep it from being perfect. Sunday afternoon sees the swell peak at 10ft SE with a 12-second period and very strong energy (2089). That’s getting big – over 8ft, so it’s expert territory only. The cross-off wind is still there, but the size and power make it a serious challenge.
Now, Monday morning, August 3rd, is a standout. The wind drops to glassy – just 3 mph from the SE, and the swell holds at 7ft SE with a 10-second period. The energy is moderate (971), but the glassy conditions mean the waves will be clean as a whistle. This is the best session on offer for the early part of the forecast. Monday afternoon, the wind shifts to a light cross-onshore, the swell backs off a bit, and the quality drops.
From Tuesday, August 4th, through to the end of the week, it’s a rough patch. Onshore winds, dropping swell, and poor surf conditions dominate. The swell dips below 5ft, and the energy tanks. Thursday, August 6th, has a brief uptick with a 6ft S swell and a short 6-second period, but the wind is howling at 25 mph – it’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.
The next real highlight shows up on Monday, August 10th, in the afternoon. A big 12ft S swell hits with a long 13-second period and massive energy (4422). That’s very strong and very long-period groundswell, best suited for a point or reef – but this is a beach/pier break, so it might break too straight and be a handful. The wind is a moderate 12 mph SSW cross-offshore, keeping it clean, but the forecast warns the swell is too big for this break. Strictly for experts, and even then, it’s a maybe.
The rest of the run into the second week – from Tuesday, August 11th, onward – is mostly onshore, messy, and not worth your time. Swells sit around 6-10ft, but the wind is relentless from the NE, and the quality is poor. There’s no standout in that period. The long gap of poor conditions starts after August 3rd and runs through to August 10th’s big swell, with only that one moment of interest.
So, to sum it up: the best bet is Monday morning, August 3rd, with glassy conditions and solid 7ft SE swell. After that, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 6 | S 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
431 | 783 | 988 | 1020 | 1828 | 2089 | 1411 | 953 | 678 | 471 | 436 | 346 | 161 | 153 | 144 | 142 | 110 | 214 | 575 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 5:11AM1.85m | 5:33PM1.96m | 5:40AM1.84m | 6:02PM1.94m | 6:10AM1.79m | 6:34PM1.88m | 6:42AM1.71m | 7:10PM1.78m | 7:20AM1.60m | 7:53PM1.66m | 8:10AM1.47m | 8:52PM1.51m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:12PM0.31m | 11:18AM0.21m | 11:41PM0.32m | 11:47AM0.23m | 00:11AM0.36m | 12:17PM0.28m | 00:44AM0.43m | 12:50PM0.37m | 1:21AM0.53m | 1:29PM0.50m | 2:09AM0.65m | 2:21PM0.65m | 3:21AM0.77m | ||||||
— | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
5:22 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | S 9 |
431 | 783 | 988 | 1020 | 1828 | 2089 | 1411 | 953 | 678 | 471 | 436 | 346 | 73 | 153 | 144 | 142 | 110 | 89 | 575 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SE 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | E 9 |
400 | 14 | 19 | 306 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 41 | 17 | 16 | 161 | 36 | 24 | 18 | 47 | 27 | 61 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 15 | — | SSW 13 | S 18 | SW 18 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 10 | S 11 | — | E 10 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
44 | 21 | — | 16 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 25 | 50 | 8 | 2 | — | 32 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 52 | 51 | 82 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | SW 3 | S 4 | — | SSW 3 | S 6 | — |
— | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 30 | 132 | 1 | 8 | — | 6 | 214 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 856 | 0 | 1 | 218 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 153 | 739 | 54 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











