
Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, ENE swell with 2,588 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM. 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 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what North Beach has cooking over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it’s a tough stretch. The first real surf worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Tuesday the 15th, and even then, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The water’s sitting at 68°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll feel that nip on the morning session.
Tuesday the 15th is the first whisper of hope. Swell is 6 ft out of the east with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 643. The wind is light and onshore from the ENE at 3 mph, so the morning will be glassy as. It’s a bit lumpy but doable for an intermediate. The afternoon drops to marginal, so get out early. Wednesday the 16th is similar – 6 ft east swell with a 10-second period, energy at 615, and onshore winds. Not a standout, but if you’re keen, the morning is the pick.
Now, the real standout for this whole period is Thursday the 17th. Swell jumps to 8 ft from the south with a short 8-second period – that’s punchy, more for experienced surfers only. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SSW at 25 mph, so the face will be clean and lined up. Combined energy is a strong 962, meaning there’s proper power in the water. This is the best day on offer. The afternoon is still good at 6 ft and clean cross-off wind, but the morning is the top session.
After that, Friday the 18th gives 7 ft from the SSE with a 9-second period and light cross-shore wind. Energy is moderate at 745. There’s rain around, but the surf is better than the rest. Saturday the 19th sees the swell drop back to 3 ft, but it’s a long-period 17-second groundswell from the SSW, with clean cross-off wind. Energy is still moderate at 751 – this is glassy and clean, great for a lazy paddle on a longboard at a point or reef if you can find one, but at North Beach, the long period might make it a bit straight.
From Sunday the 20th onward, it gets messy. Swell drops and the wind turns onshore or choppy. You’ll get some 5 ft ENE windswell on the 20th afternoon and 5 ft on the 21st, but the wind is cross-shore or cross-on, and with short periods of 6-7 seconds, it’s just bumpy. The combined energy drops to low to moderate – 217 on the 20th, 312 on the 21st. Nothing worth getting excited about.
The second week, from Monday 22nd to Saturday 26th, is mostly a write-off. Monday the 22nd has 5 ft ENE swell at 7 seconds, but the wind is cross-on from the NE, making it choppy. Similar story through to the 26th – onshore winds, short-period windswell, and energy barely cracking 400. The only flicker is Thursday the 24th morning, with a clean cross-offshore wind from SSW and 3 ft swell, but it’s weak (energy 122) and tiny.
Honestly, the standout for the whole forecast is Thursday the 17th morning. It’s the only day with real juice, clean wind, and decent size. Get it while it’s there. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, strong winds from the NE by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 17 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
217 | 160 | 125 | 94 | 160 | 248 | 237 | 520 | 1176 | 2588 | 919 | 614 | 641 | 630 | 586 | 510 | 384 | 720 | 368 | 473 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:00PM2.12m | 4:13AM2.02m | 4:29PM2.13m | 4:41AM2.00m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:10PM0.14m | 10:17AM0.09m | 10:38PM0.14m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | |
5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 9 |
217 | 160 | 125 | 94 | 160 | 169 | 51 | 39 | 41 | 35 | 919 | 614 | 641 | 630 | 586 | 510 | 384 | 234 | 239 | 473 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 5 | S 5 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 18 | S 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 10 |
48 | 8 | 9 | 66 | 87 | 91 | 237 | 140 | 24 | 46 | 37 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 8 | 8 | — | 8 | 46 | 194 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 18 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | S 4 | — | S 17 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | — | — | — | SSW 13 |
6 | 18 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 174 | 18 | 17 | 7 | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | 21 | 7 | — | — | — | 16 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | E 4 | E 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 5 | S 8 | S 8 | — |
34 | — | — | 6 | 16 | 248 | 139 | 520 | 1176 | 2588 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 180 | 720 | 368 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 155 | 1 | 5 | 856 | 0 | 1231 | 5 | 5 | 695 | 439 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 405 | 266 | 1 | 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.










