Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with 3,710 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period with SSW 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s 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 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s the same outlook for North Beach (beach/pier setup) using imperial—feet and miles per hour, like a proper East Coast call.
We start Wednesday 26 August with waves, but it’s a mixed bag. Morning has a long period south swell at 4 ft, 18-second pulse from the south. Combined energy is moderate at 1069, wind is light cross from the south at 6 mph, a bit bumpy. Water temp’s about normal. Afternoon swells to 7 ft on the same south swell, but wind turns cross-onshore from the southeast at 9 mph, making it messy. Rideable but not stellar.
Thursday 27 August through end of month is mostly garbage—strong northeast winds, 19 to 28 mph, lumpy and choppy. Swell sticks around with short periods (8–9 seconds), weak energy. Saturday 30 August morning has a tiny window: 6 ft from the east-northeast (9-second period) with clean cross-off winds from the south-southwest at 19 mph, but combined energy is only 568—marginal.
Now, the big news: Wednesday 2 September afternoon brings a long period south swell at 7 ft (16 seconds, groundswell) with moderate cross-shore wind from the south at 12 mph. Combined energy 2438—powerful, but long period could make the beach break a bit straight. A look, not a lock.
The standout window is Friday 4 September through Saturday 5 September. Friday morning: 13 ft south swell (10-second period), clean cross-off winds from the south-southwest at 22 mph, combined energy 2755. Friday afternoon: 16 ft from the south (11-second period), still clean, energy 5132. Saturday 5 September morning: 15 ft south swell (13-second period), light cross-shore wind from the south-southeast at 6 mph, almost glassy. Combined energy is 10879—very strong. This swell is expert only—over 8 ft, no beginners. That Friday morning and Saturday morning are the best—clean, powerful, and pumping. Swell direction matches the optimum southeast direction for North Beach nicely.
There’s a long gap from Saturday afternoon onward as northeast winds ruin it. Monday 7 September afternoon has a clean window with 10 ft south swell and cross-off winds, but still for experts. Last few days are marginal.
So, the pick: Friday 4 September morning and Saturday 5 September morning at North Beach. Big, clean, powerful—crowds are sometimes here, but worth it for that juice.
Signing off,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Wed morning, strong winds from the NE by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 18°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1056 | 2715 | 2749 | 1047 | 683 | 660 | 377 | 778 | 659 | 608 | 1208 | 1575 | 528 | 352 | 240 | 202 | 225 | 171 | 199 | 288 | 167 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:17PM1.82m | 3:25AM1.80m | 3:43PM1.94m | 3:52AM1.89m | 4:09PM2.04m | 4:18AM1.95m | 4:36PM2.08m | 4:45AM1.97m | 5:04PM2.09m | 5:13AM1.95m | 5:32PM2.04m | 5:42AM1.88m | 6:03PM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:04AM0.41m | 9:24PM0.40m | 9:31AM0.28m | 9:51PM0.30m | 9:57AM0.19m | 10:18PM0.22m | 10:23AM0.13m | 10:45PM0.19m | 10:51AM0.12m | 11:13PM0.20m | 11:19AM0.15m | 11:42PM0.26m | 11:48AM0.23m | 00:13AM0.35m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 28 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 1056 | 2715 | 2749 | 1047 | 683 | 660 | 377 | 292 | 184 | 252 | 187 | 878 | 528 | 352 | 240 | 202 | 225 | 171 | 199 | 186 | 167 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | E 12 | S 18 | S 17 | — | S 16 | SSE 16 | S 15 | SSW 11 | — | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 6 | S 19 |
| kJ | 6 | — | 3 | 219 | 278 | — | 46 | 86 | 163 | 12 | — | 101 | 40 | 23 | 80 | 35 | 18 | 29 | 15 | 14 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 12 | S 9 | SW 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | ESE 3 | E 4 | — | ENE 9 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 122 | 440 | 408 | 362 | 778 | 659 | 608 | 1208 | 1575 | 31 | 140 | 215 | — | 3 | 13 | — | 288 | 102 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 5 | 695 | 856 | 353 | 423 | 555 | 409 | 433 | 779 | 99 | 209 | 155 | 0 | 5 | 740 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 863 |
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.
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