
Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with 1,633 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with ENE 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks around North Beach is a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart rate up. It’s not all doom and gloom, but you’ll need to pick your moments. The swell energy fluctuates from weak to strong, and the winds are all over the shop, so patience is key.
Right off the bat, the next few days are pretty average. Sunday the 9th is flat and messy – a light cross-onshore breeze with small wind ripples isn’t doing anyone any favors. The swell is barely 3ft with weak energy (223), so you’re not missing much.
Monday the 10th is where it gets interesting, but also dangerous. We’ve got a solid 10ft swell rolling in from the south with a 9-second period. The wave energy is cranking hard (1542 in the morning, 1305 in the afternoon). The winds are cross-offshore from the SSW at 35 km/h, which keeps the face clean, but this is way too big for the average punter. Over 8ft is expert territory only. This is a “watch from the beach” day unless you’ve got serious balls and skill. It’s not a beginner wave.
Tuesday the 11th drops back to 6ft, but the quality is marginal. The energy is still solid (592 to 839), but the morning has a cross-offshore breeze that keeps it clean, while the afternoon gets chopped up. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great.
Wednesday the 12th is still in the 6ft to 6ft range, but the cross-onshore winds from the SSE and rain showers are making it lumpy. Not worth the effort.
Now, Thursday the 13th – this is where things turn on. The morning session is the standout for this first week. The swell is 6ft from the ESE with a 9-second period, and the wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSW at 10 km/h. That’s clean, lined-up surf. The wave energy is 604, which is moderate, but the conditions are good. The tide is favorable, and it’s glassy enough to make it a proper session. This is your pick for the first week. The afternoon the wind switches cross-shore and the quality drops, so make the most of the morning.
Friday the 14th is still workable – 4ft from the east with a 10-second period. Morning is clean with light cross-offshore winds, making for a decent, if smaller, session. It’s a fun, mellow wave.
Saturday the 15th sees the swell bump back up to 6ft to 6ft, but the wind is onshore from the east for most of the day. The energy is starting to ramp up (717 to 866), but it’s not clean.
But Sunday the 16th – this is the real gem of the window so far. The swell is a solid 7ft from the east with an 11-second period, and the wind is dead calm – glassy, both morning and afternoon. That’s 964 energy, strong, and it’s clean. This is the other standout. North Beach (it’s the only region in this outlook) will be handling this well, with longer-period groundswell giving it more push and shape. It’s not too big for intermediates, and with glassy conditions, it will be a proper day. Get in the water early.
After that, Monday the 17th holds some size at 6ft, but the onshore wind creeps back, and the quality fades. By Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, the poor surf conditions hit – swell drops to 4ft and the NE cross-onshore winds chop it up. Not worth your time.
The second week is less of a story. Around August 20th, the winds get strong again, but the swell becomes inconsistent. There’s a pulse of 5ft on Thursday afternoon with a longer 14-second period, but the cross-shore winds and chop ruin it. The 22nd is a write-off with strong cross-onshore winds.
Then, a late call for Sunday the 23rd – a 7ft pulse from the NE with a short 7-second period, cross-offshore winds, and clean condition. But the period is short and junky. The energy is moderate (877), but if it lines up, there could be a few. The 24th is a stormy mess with choppy onshores.
Overall, the peaks are Thursday the 13th morning and Sunday the 16th – both with clean winds and solid, rideable swell. The first is a bit smaller and more lined up; the second is bigger, glassier, and likely the better of the two. Mark your calendar for Sunday the 16th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 22°C on Sat night, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sun morning, near gales from the SSW by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
181 | 177 | 120 | 369 | 1495 | 1256 | 748 | 422 | 422 | 241 | 465 | 611 | 618 | 486 | 378 | 256 | 326 | 320 | 442 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy |
High Tide | 00:34AM1.45m | 1:29PM1.48m | 1:51AM1.59m | 2:27PM1.68m | 2:43AM1.75m | 3:12PM1.86m | 3:25AM1.88m | 3:50PM2.00m | 4:03AM1.96m | 4:26PM2.07m | 4:37AM2.00m | 4:59PM2.09m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:07AM0.68m | 7:39PM0.67m | 8:10AM0.50m | 8:36PM0.50m | 8:56AM0.33m | 9:21PM0.35m | 9:36AM0.20m | 9:59PM0.24m | 10:12AM0.12m | 10:35PM0.18m | 10:45AM0.09m | 11:08PM0.18m | |||||||
— | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
5:27 | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 9 |
181 | 177 | 120 | 60 | 45 | 45 | 574 | 89 | 168 | 219 | 465 | 611 | 618 | 486 | 378 | 256 | 326 | 320 | 442 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 5 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 15 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 9 | SE 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 16 |
68 | 7 | 89 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 69 | 69 | 163 | 241 | 244 | 275 | 108 | 80 | 71 | 46 | 92 | 88 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 7 | — | — | — | S 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SE 9 | S 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 15 |
78 | 39 | 2 | — | — | — | 15 | 12 | 86 | 239 | 332 | 13 | 9 | 38 | 47 | 75 | 30 | 25 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 2 | — | S 4 | SSW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | — | 15 | 369 | 1495 | 1256 | 748 | 422 | 422 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 153 | 154 | 862 | 562 | 238 | 1 | 907 | 1245 | 54 | 254 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 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.











