
Surf Forecasts:
Dairy Beach (New Pier) surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, S swell with 1,207 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period with SE 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. 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 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 10s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dairy Beach (New Pier) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The only break on the radar for this stretch is Dairy Beach (New Pier). The setup is a beach-and-pier deal, fairly exposed, and it likes an easterly direction for the best shape. The water is sitting at 73°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice little bonus.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first chance to even think about paddling out comes on Monday, July 20th, but honestly, it’s not much to write home about. You’ve got a 6ft SE swell running with a 12-second period, so there’s some decent energy in the water (combined energy of 1087), but the wind is a messy cross-off from the south in the morning, turning into a cross-shore in the afternoon. The call is marginal at best, and the scores are low. It’s surfable, but it’s not going to be one for the memory bank.
From Tuesday through Thursday, it goes downhill. The swell drops, winds turn onshore from the northeast, and the conditions are just poor. The combined energy drops to around 432-448 on Wednesday, and by Thursday, the swell is down to 2ft-3ft with a strong cross-off wind. It’s not worth suiting up for.
Now, Friday, July 24th is where things get a bit more interesting. The morning is still a bit messy with a 8ft S swell and a strong cross-off wind, but the afternoon is the real standout. The wind swings to a gentle cross-off from the SSE, the swell drops to a solid 7ft from the south with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 1116. That’s the window. The waves will be clean, the pier will be working, and it’s the best session on offer in the whole outlook. The only catch? It’s an intermediate-level wave at that size, and the crowds are often there, so be ready to share the peak.
After that, it’s a long, dry spell. From Saturday, July 25th, all the way through to Thursday, July 30th, it’s mostly onshore junk. The wind is pumping from the northeast, hitting 25 mph at times, and the swell is either too small or too short-period to do anything with. The combined energy on Sunday afternoon is just 129, and it’s a 6ft ENE windswell with a pathetic 6-second period – that’s more of a washing machine than a wave. The conditions are so poor that this setup would actually be more fun for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Then, on Friday, July 31st, we get a tiny glimmer. The morning has a clean 2ft ESE swell with a 13-second period, and a light offshore wind from the WSW. The combined energy is 274, which is weak, but the glassy conditions and that long period mean it’ll be clean and fun for a longboard. It’s small, but it’s the only clean surf in that whole week.
The outlook ends on Sunday, August 2nd with a bit of a warning. The afternoon shows a 12ft S swell with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 2160. That is a huge amount of energy, but the wind is onshore and the forecast says it’s simply too big for this break. That’s for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a wild, dangerous paddle-out. Leave that one for the tow crew.
So, overall, there’s only one true standout: Friday afternoon, July 24th at Dairy Beach. Get there if you can. Everything else is either flat, blown out, or too big to handle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Thu morning, light winds from the ESE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | NE 6 | SE 12 | SE 12 | S 8 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 19 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ENE 6 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1010 | 1082 | 624 | 546 | 494 | 442 | 403 | 319 | 284 | 167 | 108 | 368 | 1207 | 1066 | 643 | 465 | 116 | 126 | 108 | 258 | 352 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:52PM1.65m | 8:03AM1.46m | 8:36PM1.52m | 8:51AM1.33m | 9:34PM1.41m | 10:13AM1.23m | 11:07PM1.35m | 12:17PM1.23m | 00:47AM1.38m | 1:42PM1.33m | 1:52AM1.47m | 2:30PM1.47m | 2:37AM1.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:31PM0.50m | 2:06AM0.65m | 2:09PM0.64m | 2:56AM0.77m | 2:58PM0.77m | 4:10AM0.86m | 4:18PM0.88m | 6:01AM0.86m | 6:17PM0.89m | 7:26AM0.78m | 7:39PM0.81m | 8:16AM0.66m | 8:30PM0.69m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 12 | SSW 10 | SE 11 | S 20 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 17 | SSE 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
1010 | 1082 | 624 | 546 | 494 | 442 | 403 | 319 | 154 | 88 | 108 | 141 | 60 | 194 | 643 | 238 | 534 | 126 | 273 | 253 | 129 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ENE 7 | SE 11 | E 10 | SE 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSE 8 | SSW 15 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
46 | 47 | 110 | 37 | 91 | 193 | 376 | 261 | 236 | 167 | 47 | 103 | 2 | 42 | 480 | 297 | 116 | 292 | 108 | 72 | 32 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | E 9 | E 9 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | — | NE 8 | NE 7 | E 10 | SE 11 | S 19 | SSW 10 | ESE 10 | SSE 11 | — | — |
31 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 53 | 14 | 6 | — | 135 | 56 | — | 28 | 2 | 8 | 29 | 465 | 56 | 10 | 25 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | — | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 10 | S 11 | — | NE 3 | ENE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 7 |
71 | — | — | — | 4 | 16 | 23 | 129 | 284 | — | 181 | 368 | 1207 | 1066 | — | 2 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 258 | 352 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 237 | 329 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 476 | 1 | 155 | 155 | 0 | 329 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 510 | 695 | 218 |
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.










