Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SE swell with 2,078 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with ESE 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, it's Rusty. Let's talk about the next 16 days.
The only game in town is North Beach (beach/pier). The water temp is right around average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
We start off slow. Saturday and Sunday, the 1st and 2nd of August, have some size – 7ft to 10ft from the SE – but the wind is a cross-off, and the conditions are just marginal. The wave energy is moderate on Saturday (738 to 909) and then gets strong on Sunday morning (1776) and very strong Sunday afternoon (2115). That Sunday afternoon swell is 10ft with a 12-second period, a proper groundswell, but it's flagged as too big for the place, so it's experts only.
Here's the real standout. Monday the 3rd of August, first light. The swell is a clean 7ft from the SE, but the wind is glass – dead calm, not a ripple. The water will be like a mirror. The wave energy is moderate (944). This is the session to circle. It doesn't get any cleaner.
The rest of the week is a drag. From Tuesday the 4th through Saturday the 9th, it's a mix of small chop and onshore junk. The wind goes cross-on, the swell drops to 3ft to 6ft, and the wave energy is weak to moderate (169 to 719). The water gets lumpy and choppy. There's a brief glimmer on Friday the 7th morning with glassy conditions and a 5ft, 12-second S swell (719 energy), but the afternoon blows it out. That's a big gap of poor to no surf.
Then the ocean wakes up again. Sunday the 10th and Monday the 11th of August bring a big, powerful, clean swell. Sunday has 10ft to 12ft from the S with a 13-second period, and the wave energy is huge (3333 to 4565). The wind is cross-off, so it's clean, but it's too big for North Beach – only for the hardcore crew. Monday the 11th is still massive (10ft, 12-second SSE, 2587 energy) but with a cross-on wind, making it messy.
From Tuesday the 12th all the way to Sunday the 16th, it's a total mess. The wind is a constant cross-on from the NE, often strong, and even though the swell is there, the conditions are poor or marginal. The wave energy fluctuates from moderate to strong (797 to 1745), but the surface is choppy, lumpy, and messy. Not a good outlook for a paddle. Might be a kite session, though.
So, your best bet is Monday the 3rd of August morning. The rest is a long wait for the big, dangerous stuff on the 10th and 11th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 7 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 431 | 729 | 865 | 1090 | 1746 | 2078 | 1340 | 901 | 698 | 471 | 490 | 480 | 161 | 153 | 144 | 142 | 113 | 289 | 563 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:11AM1.85m | 5:33PM1.96m | 5:40AM1.84m | 6:02PM1.94m | 6:10AM1.79m | 6:34PM1.88m | 6:42AM1.71m | 7:10PM1.78m | 7:20AM1.60m | 7:53PM1.66m | 8:10AM1.47m | 8:52PM1.51m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:29PM0.50m | 2:09AM0.65m | 2:21PM0.65m | 3:21AM0.77m | ||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 5:22 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 431 | 729 | 865 | 1090 | 1746 | 2078 | 1340 | 901 | 698 | 471 | 490 | 480 | 72 | 153 | 144 | 142 | 113 | 89 | 563 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SW 12 | SW 13 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | ESE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 329 | 5 | 44 | 12 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 17 | 6 | 161 | 38 | 24 | 20 | 30 | 28 | 62 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 15 | — | — | S 18 | S 14 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 10 | S 13 | S 12 | E 10 | SW 12 | S 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 16 | 4 | — | — | 6 | 15 | 12 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 33 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 26 | 28 | 79 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | NE 4 | NE 5 | — | SW 3 | S 4 | — | S 3 | S 7 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 51 | — | 1 | 9 | — | 4 | 289 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 856 | 0 | 1 | 219 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 153 | 740 | 54 |
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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