Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with 3,579 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk North Beach. For the next couple of weeks, it’s a tale of two halves – a waiting game, then one good day, then back to the struggle.
Right now, through the start of September, there’s nothing doing. We’ve got a gap with no real recommendations until Friday the 4th of September. Small, weak swell and foul winds – mostly cross or cross-onshore – keeping it choppy and uninviting. The energy’s low, barely scraping triple digits. Not worth wetting your wetsuit.
The first real standout hits Friday afternoon, September 4th. The swell jumps to a solid 13ft from the SSE with an 11-second period. The combined energy is huge at 3666. But here’s the thing: that’s way too big for North Beach. The forecast says it’s predicted to be too big, so this is experts-only. Add a fresh cross-shore wind from the South at 30 km/h, and it’ll be lumpy. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle.
The absolute best session of the 16-day window is Saturday morning, September 5th. We’ve got 8ft of SE swell, 9-second period, and a very strong combined energy of 1539. But the magic is in the wind: a light SSW cross-off breeze at just 10 km/h, making for clean, glassy conditions. The guidance calls it "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers," and that’s spot on. The size is too big for beginners, but for the intermediate-to-expert crew, this is your day. Expect crowds possible on a Saturday morning, so get down early.
After that weekend, it falls apart. From Sunday the 6th onward, it’s a long run of poor conditions. Wind swings northeast and stays cross-onshore, fresh and strong, with lumpy, choppy surf. Swell comes and goes, but the wind ruins it every time. There’s a brief clean window on the 11th with cross-off wind and a small 3ft swell, but the energy is weak and the comment says "poor surf conditions." That pretty much sums up the second week.
The second half of the outlook is a bust. The wind stays onshore and messy. Even on the 15th, with a tiny 2ft swell from the South and a long 15-second period, the conditions aren’t good enough.
So, bottom line: target Saturday the 5th of September. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off. Keep your gear dry.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 18°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Thu night, calm by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 10 | SSE 8 | S 21 | S 17 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 266 | 196 | 157 | 143 | 161 | 163 | 350 | 406 | 188 | 722 | 512 | 1073 | 3579 | 2637 | 1202 | 1040 | 449 | 764 | 857 | 2023 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | on | off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:32PM2.04m | 5:42AM1.88m | 6:03PM1.95m | 6:14AM1.78m | 6:36PM1.81m | 6:50AM1.63m | 7:14PM1.63m | 7:38AM1.45m | 8:11PM1.44m | 9:12AM1.29m | 10:28PM1.30m | 12:19PM1.33m | 00:53AM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:42PM0.26m | 11:48AM0.23m | 00:13AM0.35m | 12:20PM0.36m | 00:47AM0.49m | 12:57PM0.54m | 1:31AM0.65m | 1:46PM0.74m | 2:44AM0.82m | 3:39PM0.92m | 5:32AM0.86m | 6:39PM0.85m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | |  | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 10 |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 32 | 33 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | E 10 | S 21 | S 17 |
| kJ | 266 | 196 | 157 | 143 | 161 | 163 | 96 | 406 | 102 | 75 | 315 | 103 | 59 | 2331 | 1202 | 727 | 363 | 183 | 857 | 2023 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | E 8 | S 6 | — | — | S 16 | NE 8 | S 17 | S 15 | E 8 | E 10 | S 14 | E 9 | — |
| kJ | 41 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 38 | 123 | 350 | 52 | 3 | — | — | 5 | 28 | 23 | 112 | 142 | 340 | 37 | 140 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SE 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 7 | ENE 9 | E 9 | NE 8 | — | — | — | S 16 | — | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | E 10 | SSW 12 | S 19 | SSW 16 | — |
| kJ | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 129 | 54 | 28 | — | — | — | 5 | — | 54 | 225 | 50 | 46 | 30 | 406 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 3 | ENE 5 | — | SSW 4 | S 5 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | — | SE 9 | E 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | 48 | — | 21 | 33 | 65 | 188 | 722 | 512 | 1073 | 3579 | 2637 | — | 1040 | 449 | 764 | 662 | 816 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 155 | 18 | 1 | 219 | 404 | 219 | 1424 | 2612 | 779 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 209 |
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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