Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, S swell with 2,684 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with S 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. 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 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down what’s happening at North Beach over the next sixteen days.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a flat spell. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are offering little to nothing worth paddling out for – small, choppy, messy. You’ll be fighting the wind for scraps. It’s not until Wednesday the 26th that things start to look interesting. The morning has some clean cross-offshore conditions with a 4ft south swell, but it’s the afternoon that really gets the blood pumping. That south groundswell pushes up to 5ft, with a long 18-second period, and the wind is clean off the land. The wave energy is strong (1398), and for experienced surfers, this is where it’s at. The swell direction from the south is a good match for this exposed spot, so expect some long, lined-up waves at North Beach. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no wetsuit surprises.
Then the wind turns on us. Thursday the 27th through to the end of August sees strong onshore winds from the northeast, blowing straight across the waves. The swell gets bigger – 8ft, even 12ft on the 30th – but it’s lumpy, choppy, and ragged. The period drops to 8-9 seconds, so it’s short-period wind swell. This is not a paddle-surfing situation. With that much wind and size, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing show than a clean surf session.
We get a brief reprieve on Monday the 31st of August. The morning shows an 8ft south-southwest swell with clean cross-offshore winds. The wave energy is very strong (1623), but the period is short (9 seconds), and the conditions are described as marginal. It’s a gamble, but the clean wind is a big plus. The afternoon fades.
After that, it’s a mixed bag of small, wind-affected waves and stronger onshore blows through the first week of September. The 8th of September, Tuesday morning, is a real standout in the long-range forecast. The swell drops to 4ft, but it’s a long-period 12-second south swell, with a light cross-offshore breeze. The wave energy is moderate (569), and the conditions are clean. It’s not huge, but it’s the kind of day where the waves will have shape and the water will be glassy. For a mid-week dawn patrol, this is a promising one – though it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on the forecasts.
The best on offer is undeniably Wednesday afternoon, the 26th of August. The 5ft south swell, 18-second period, clean wind, and strong energy (1398) make it the pick of the run. The next best is Tuesday morning, the 8th of September, for clean, long-period waves, even if it’s smaller.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the NE by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | S 18 | SSW 16 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
371 | 268 | 133 | 103 | 263 | 300 | 437 | 751 | 1388 | 2684 | 843 | 683 | 581 | 547 | 979 | 650 | 650 | 1103 | 885 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:52AM1.40m | 2:22PM1.50m | 2:28AM1.55m | 2:50PM1.67m | 2:57AM1.68m | 3:17PM1.82m | 3:25AM1.80m | 3:43PM1.94m | 3:52AM1.89m | 4:09PM2.04m | 4:18AM1.95m | 4:36PM2.08m | 4:45AM1.97m | ||||||
Low Tide | 8:07AM0.70m | 8:27PM0.69m | 8:37AM0.55m | 8:57PM0.54m | 9:04AM0.41m | 9:24PM0.40m | 9:31AM0.28m | 9:51PM0.30m | 9:57AM0.19m | 10:18PM0.22m | 10:23AM0.13m | 10:45PM0.19m | |||||||
— | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
5:35 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | S 18 | SSW 16 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
371 | 268 | 133 | 103 | 263 | 300 | 437 | 751 | 1388 | 2684 | 843 | 683 | 551 | 371 | 292 | 229 | 295 | 187 | 101 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 4 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 12 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | — | — | SW 10 |
6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 50 | 158 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 367 | 209 | 130 | 46 | 131 | 221 | — | — | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSE 12 | SSW 17 | ENE 5 | SSE 9 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
13 | 27 | 14 | 99 | 4 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | — | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
— | — | 4 | 16 | — | — | 8 | 4 | — | — | 138 | 384 | 581 | 547 | 979 | 650 | 650 | 1103 | 885 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 695 | 714 | 404 | 334 | 907 | 219 | 555 | 695 | 423 |
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.











