Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 15s period, S swell with 9,157 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for North Beach this week:
The surf forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at North Beach in the next 16 days are 4.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk North Beach. We’ve got a bit of a wait ahead, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board just yet.
The next couple of weeks are looking pretty average overall, with a lot of onshore wind and choppy conditions messing things up. The water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We’re looking at a solid gap of poor to marginal surf all the way through to the end of August. The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, the swell is mixed, and the energy is weak to moderate. You’ll see a few windows where the combo energy climbs, like on the 17th afternoon (1177) and the 23rd morning (1527), but the wind and tide just aren’t lining up for a clean session. It’s frustrating, but it’s the way it is.
The real standout here is Sunday the 23rd afternoon. The swell jumps to 15 ft from the S with a period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is huge (7991), but—and this is a big but—that’s way too much juice for North Beach. The file says it’s too big for this break, and honestly, unless you’re a seasoned expert looking for a beast of a challenge, this is a day to watch from the sand. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but the size is only for the brave.
A much better bet for experienced surfers comes on Tuesday the 25th morning. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7 ft from the S, period 13 seconds, and the wind goes glassy. That’s the magic combo. Clean, long period groundswell, perfect for a point or reef, though at this beach setup it might be a little straight-breaking. The energy is still strong (1669), and it’s the cleanest window in the whole outlook. If you’re charging, that’s your session.
For the rest, the first week of September kicks off with a bit of promise. Monday the 31st morning shows 7 ft from the S with a light cross-off wind and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (959), and it’s a solid option for intermediate surfers. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
Overall, don’t bother paddling out until the 23rd if you’re an expert, or the 25th morning for the best chance at a glassy, powerful session. After that, the 31st looks like the best bet for the rest of us. Keep an eye on the wind, because the swell is there, but it’s the wind that’ll make or break it.
Stay salty.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed night, calm by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | S 7 | SSW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
536 | 683 | 541 | 671 | 414 | 246 | 198 | 155 | 117 | 94 | 127 | 269 | 210 | 547 | 703 | 286 | 293 | 157 | 381 | 280 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:00PM1.97m | 6:10AM1.80m | 6:29PM1.85m | 6:38AM1.67m | 6:58PM1.71m | 7:05AM1.52m | 7:27PM1.56m | 7:37AM1.37m | 8:04PM1.40m | 8:28AM1.22m | 9:28PM1.25m | 12:11PM1.16m | 00:48AM1.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:10AM0.33m | 12:15PM0.32m | 00:39AM0.45m | 12:42PM0.46m | 1:08AM0.59m | 1:09PM0.61m | 1:41AM0.74m | 1:39PM0.78m | 2:29AM0.89m | 2:31PM0.94m | 5:06AM0.97m | 6:20PM1.00m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 29 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 25 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | S 7 | S 14 | SSW 13 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 8 |
536 | 683 | 541 | 500 | 414 | 246 | 198 | 155 | 117 | 89 | 127 | 46 | 32 | 100 | 703 | 286 | 121 | 157 | 62 | 169 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 16 | S 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 13 | ENE 7 |
10 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 85 | 94 | — | 74 | 74 | 547 | 21 | 20 | 130 | 88 | 55 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 15 | S 12 | S 11 | S 17 | S 18 | S 10 | SW 17 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | — | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 8 | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | E 8 |
6 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 2 | — | 19 | 2 | 22 | — | — | 24 | — | — | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | ENE 10 | NNE 6 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 4 | — | ENE 5 | SSW 4 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | NE 4 | NE 6 | S 3 | S 7 | SSW 8 |
21 | 46 | 48 | 671 | 42 | 28 | 40 | 13 | — | 32 | 47 | 269 | 210 | — | — | 23 | 293 | 5 | 381 | 280 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 154 | 154 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 107 | 405 | 238 | 0 | 802 | 721 | 39 | 1 | 856 | 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 North Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for North Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at North Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our North Beach 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 (North Beach) 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 North Beach 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 North Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, consider staying in Durban which is 6 km (4 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.











