Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, S swell with 3,039 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with SSE 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 04) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 19s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at North Beach in the next 16 days are 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’re looking at North Beach for the next couple of weeks. It’s an exposed beach and pier setup, and honestly, the first week is a tough slog. There’s a lot of wind and lumpy conditions, but we’ve got a bit of a gem waiting for us if we can hold out.
The water temp is sitting at 69°F right now, which is about 1°F cooler than normal for this time of year. It’s a touch cool, but nothing crazy.
The first real chance to get wet comes on Friday the 4th. The morning has a 8ft swell from the south, but it’s a short period 8 seconds and the wind is blowing hard at 25 mph from the SSW. That’s a cross-off wind, but it’s a strong breeze, and the wave energy is hefty at (1076). It’s gonna be clean-looking but the tide and conditions are marginal. Better to sit this one out unless you’re desperate.
Friday afternoon the swell jumps to 10ft, but the wind switches to a cross-shore and the surf is a mess. No good.
Saturday morning on the 5th drops to 7ft from the SSE, period 9 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s still choppy. Not great.
The whole first week is like this. Wind is almost always cross-onshore or onshore, and the energy is moderate to strong, but the quality is poor. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. It’s a grind. We get a long-period groundswell on Monday the 7th with a 17-second period and a massive 11ft from the south, but the wind is howling at 19 mph from the NE, making it lumpy. The energy is crazy high (3391), but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go. That’s kite territory.
The real standout comes on Friday the 18th. That’s the one. The Saturday morning session is the pick. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the SSE, a 12-second period, and the wind is a light 3 mph from the SSW – that’s cross-offshore and glassy. The wave energy is solid (1597), the conditions are clean, and the file says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best bet of the whole run. The swell is a bit over head high, so it’s got some punch, but that long period and clean wind will make for some proper lines. Get out there early.
The rest of that second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Thursday the 17th has some decent 8ft and 7ft south swells with a 12-second period, but the wind is a moderate cross-off, and the reports say it’s marginal. Crowds are possible at North Beach. The Saturday morning on the 19th is a letdown after the previous day’s glory.
So, bottom line: don’t waste your time this first week unless you’re desperate. Hold out for the morning of Friday the 18th. That’s the one.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri morning, light winds from the ENE by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | S 21 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 985 | 1487 | 1329 | 783 | 586 | 249 | 194 | 189 | 557 | 3039 | 1750 | 764 | 389 | 456 | 428 | 363 | 728 | 666 | 554 | 820 | 828 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:11PM1.44m | 9:12AM1.29m | 10:28PM1.30m | 12:19PM1.33m | 00:53AM1.40m | 1:37PM1.54m | 1:54AM1.59m | 2:21PM1.75m | 2:35AM1.76m | 2:57PM1.93m | 3:10AM1.90m | 3:29PM2.05m | 3:42AM1.98m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:46PM0.74m | 2:44AM0.82m | 3:39PM0.92m | 5:32AM0.86m | 6:39PM0.85m | 7:14AM0.69m | 7:49PM0.65m | 8:04AM0.49m | 8:32PM0.45m | 8:43AM0.32m | 9:07PM0.29m | 9:16AM0.19m | 9:39PM0.19m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | |  | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | 5 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | E 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 62 | 49 | 1329 | 783 | 586 | 249 | 194 | 189 | 146 | 3039 | 1750 | 764 | 389 | 228 | 114 | 52 | 62 | 35 | 44 | 39 | 562 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | S 11 | S 13 | E 10 | — | E 11 | E 10 | S 18 | SSW 12 | SSE 13 | SSW 12 | E 12 | S 15 | S 14 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 29 | 9 | 50 | 71 | 98 | 233 | 95 | 143 | 352 | 121 | — | 21 | 19 | 6 | 57 | 31 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 45 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 11 | SE 8 | S 21 | — | — | S 20 | — | S 18 | S 17 | SSW 10 | SW 18 | S 16 | — | SSE 14 | SE 18 |
| kJ | — | — | 23 | 112 | 104 | 65 | 149 | 59 | 557 | — | — | 7 | — | 6 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 5 | — | 20 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 9 | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | E 4 | E 10 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 985 | 1487 | — | — | 99 | — | — | — | 17 | 231 | 126 | 227 | 192 | 456 | 428 | 363 | 728 | 666 | 554 | 820 | 828 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 665 | 1241 | 802 | 5 | 779 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 107 | 862 | 555 | 476 | 894 | 353 | 510 | 684 | 5 | 254 | 244 | 2 |
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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