
Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 1,845 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with SSE 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. 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 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what North Beach has got cooking over the next couple of weeks. It’s a real mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart pumping.
First up, the overall pattern: we’ve got a lot of swell on the way, but for the most part, the wind is going to be a bit of a problem. The first four days are all about a building swell but it’s riding on some strong cross-offshore breezes. It’s clean, but it’s a bit of a wrestle to get the right wave, especially with the size ramping up.
Let’s break it down. Thursday the 30th sees a 7ft to 8ft swell out of the SSE with a moderate period of 9 seconds. The wave energy is moderate at best (926-1154), but it's pretty poor quality for a proper surf. Don’t get too excited.
On Friday the 31st, things get serious. The swell jumps to 10ft from the SSE and the energy rockets up to a very strong 2486. The catch is it’s too big for this break. This one’s for the experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a beast. The morning might look clean, but it’s a big, powerful wave that’s going to close out on the pier.
Saturday the 1st of August is a bit of a letdown – dropping back to 7ft, but still a messy, cross-off wind. The energy drops a bit.
Now, here’s the true standout in the first week. Sunday, the 2nd of August. This is the morning to set the alarm for. We’ve got an 8ft SE groundswell with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is a strong 1761. But the key is the wind – a light 6 mph cross-offshore from the SSW. That’s about as clean as it gets. The swell direction is coming from the SE, which is close to the optimum SE direction for North Beach, meaning it’ll wrap in nicely. It’s going to be a bit of a challenge for the average surfer with that size, but for the intermediate and above, the conditions are excellent. The wave will have some punch and the light wind will keep the face smooth. It’s a pretty consistent spot, so expect a few heads out, but it’s worth it.
After that, things go a bit flat and messy from Monday the 3rd right through to Saturday the 8th. The swell drops off and the wind turns onshore from the NE, making everything choppy and lumpy. There’s a solid 5-day gap there with nothing worth paddling out for. The wave energy drops to weak to moderate (around 200-700). It’s a dead period.
Then on Sunday the 9th, a new long-range swell is building, but it’s mostly wind and a messy 5ft to 4ft. Still not happening.
Now, for the second week, we’ve got a promising but less certain call for Monday the 10th of August. A solid 12ft to 10ft SSW groundswell with a period of 12 seconds is forecast. The combined energy is a very strong 3930. The wind is looking alright – fresh cross-off in the morning. But again, it’s forecast to be too big for the break. This one is a proper big-wave day for the crew with the biggest balls. The wave will be powerful and long-period, but it’s going to be intimidating and dangerous for anyone else.
Tuesday the 11th brings a big 7ft to 8ft S groundswell with a very long 14-16 second period. The energy is through the roof (3444-3982). But the wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy. The long period will be better matched to a point or reef, so it might break a bit straight on the beach, but there’ll be a lot of water moving.
The rest of that week (12th-14th) is a mix of smaller swells and still onshore winds. Not the best.
So, for the entire window, the one true standout is Sunday morning, the 2nd of August. That’s your best bet for a clean, fun session. The big wave on the 10th is a huge, powerful swell for experts only.
The water temperature is about average for this time of year – no major anomalies.
This is Rusty, signing off. Get out there when it’s good.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Thu afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 14 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
453 | 692 | 929 | 1606 | 1393 | 969 | 734 | 699 | 842 | 1565 | 1732 | 1363 | 794 | 661 | 555 | 355 | 271 | 180 | 287 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:14AM1.81m | 4:36PM1.91m | 4:43AM1.85m | 5:04PM1.95m | 5:11AM1.85m | 5:33PM1.96m | 5:40AM1.84m | 6:02PM1.94m | 6:10AM1.79m | 6:34PM1.88m | 6:42AM1.71m | 7:10PM1.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:13PM0.39m | 10:23AM0.27m | 10:43PM0.34m | 10:50AM0.23m | 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 | ||||||
— | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
5:21 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | |
mm | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 7 |
453 | 60 | 154 | 999 | 1020 | 52 | 734 | 699 | 842 | 1565 | 1732 | 1363 | 794 | 661 | 555 | 355 | 271 | 180 | 158 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSW 15 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | ESE 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 |
108 | 174 | 71 | 113 | 73 | 33 | 16 | 5 | 314 | 15 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 121 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 | S 15 | SW 14 | — | S 18 | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | SSW 16 | S 10 | S 11 | S 12 | SW 12 |
121 | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 4 | 7 | — | 6 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 14 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | WSW 3 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 7 |
73 | 692 | 929 | 1606 | 1393 | 969 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 33 | 36 | 45 | 287 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 330 | 405 | 48 | 238 | 907 | 0 | 1 | 139 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 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 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.










