
Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, ENE swell with 2,174 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at North Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, I'm looking at the charts for this stretch and my guts telling me it's going to be one of those frustrating run of days before we finally get a proper window. Let's break it down.
The first sign of anything rideable is only really showing up on the 15th of September, and even that's a struggle. We've got a run of poor surf conditions from the 13th through to the morning of the 15th, so don't bother paddling out until then. For the first couple of days, it's basically a flat spell with the odd bit of junk, not worth your time.
Come the morning of the 15th, North Beach (beach/pier) is showing a 7ft swell from the East, but it's onshore, so it's messy. That six-foot range is pushing it for beginners, and the conditions are just marginal. The afternoon gets a bit better with 6ft and a cross-shore breeze, but it's still only a 1 out of 10 for me. Not exactly firing.
The 16th and 17th are much the same: chest to head-high waves in the 5ft to 6ft range, with a bit of a side-shore wind that keeps a chop on it. The energy is moderate at best (613 and 525), and the period is around 9-10 seconds, so it's a wind swell for the most part. The 17th afternoon brings a bit more size at 10ft from the SSW, but the report flags it as too big for this break. That's big, angry, and with a strong cross-offshore wind; it might be clean, but only for the very brave and experienced (ocean energy is a very strong 1563).
The real standout of the whole forecast is actually going to be the 24th of September, Thursday morning, and then Friday the 25th. On the 24th, the morning has a 8ft swell from the South, with a moderate cross-shore breeze – it's a bit choppy but rideable. But the afternoon gets cleaner with a cross-offshore wind and an 8ft swell from the South (energy 1042). That’s a solid, powerful south swell, and it's clean. That's the one to circle.
And then on Friday the 25th, we get a big, clean 10ft south-southeast swell with a light cross-offshore wind. The report flags it as "too big for this break," which means it’s a serious, heavy wave only for experts. The combined swell energy is 1539 – that’s strong. So if you are an expert, that Friday morning at North Beach could be the session of the month, but you need to be on your game.
Overall, don't bother with the first week. The standout is the end of the second week, specifically the afternoon of the 24th and the morning of the 25th. It’s a long way out so keep an eye on it, but it looks like a proper clean south swell. North Beach is fairly consistent, so while this run is poor, it won't be quiet forever.
The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild to report there.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, near gales from the NE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 68mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | SSW 17 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
173 | 237 | 273 | 731 | 1852 | 1564 | 864 | 901 | 697 | 596 | 586 | 449 | 527 | 1245 | 858 | 629 | 453 | 292 | 221 | 173 | 111 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:56PM2.09m | 5:08AM1.93m | 5:23PM2.00m | 5:34AM1.83m | 5:48PM1.88m | 5:58AM1.71m | 6:12PM1.73m | 6:23AM1.56m | 6:36PM1.57m | 6:49AM1.41m | 7:02PM1.40m | 7:28AM1.25m | 7:47PM1.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:45AM0.13m | 11:06PM0.19m | 11:12AM0.20m | 11:32PM0.29m | 11:37AM0.32m | 11:58PM0.41m | 12:00PM0.46m | 00:22AM0.55m | 12:24PM0.62m | 00:49AM0.70m | 12:49PM0.79m | 1:22AM0.86m | 1:24PM0.97m | 3:13AM1.00m | |||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 15 |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
164 | 67 | 91 | 162 | 83 | 37 | 864 | 715 | 697 | 596 | 586 | 449 | 394 | 296 | 858 | 512 | 106 | 292 | 221 | 173 | 111 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSW 17 | E 8 | SSW 14 | S 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | SW 14 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
69 | 237 | 69 | 41 | 2 | 156 | 29 | 24 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | 7 | 194 | 142 | 13 | 133 | 102 | 76 | 69 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 10 | SSW 16 | S 18 | — | — | — | — | S 17 | SW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 10 |
173 | 18 | 140 | 24 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 9 | 17 | 14 | — | — | 17 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 44 | 41 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | ENE 9 | — | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | S 8 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | 199 | 273 | 731 | 1852 | 1564 | — | 901 | — | — | — | 17 | 527 | 1245 | — | 629 | 453 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 695 | 555 | 555 | 219 | 5 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 330 | 0 | 155 | 330 | 1 | 81 | 779 | 779 | 779 | 779 |
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.










