Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, S swell with 2,781 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s 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 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, gather 'round for the full rundown on North Beach. It's a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, but we've got a couple of windows if you time it right.
First up, the spot itself. North Beach is an exposed beach and pier setup, and the water's sitting at a pretty average 70°F for this time of year. The swell has some juice in it, but the wind's gonna be the main character for the first week, and it's not always a helpful one.
We kick off on Friday the 21st. It's a write-off. A small 4ft S swell with a 13-second period (decent groundswell) but it's light cross-on breezes making a mess of it. Combined energy isn't weak at 461, but it's just poor surf.
Saturday the 22nd looks rough. A tiny 1ft swell isn't doing anything, and a 31 mph SSW wind in the arvo is howling offshore but will be a battle. Sunday the 23rd is the first real standout but comes with a massive caveat. We've got a solid 10ft SSW swell with a short 10-second period, pushing some serious energy (2380). The problem is, that's simply too much for this break. The wind is howling offshore from the South at 16 mph, which would clean it up, but it's only for experts and even then, it's a beast that'll close out.
The week from Monday the 24th to Tuesday the 3rd of September is a long, dry spell. Swell drops right off and the winds are just all wrong. We see some long period pulses around the 25th and 26th of August, with a sweet 4ft S swell and 16-second period on Wednesday morning that even got a clean wind call. The energy was solid (673) and it would have been beautiful, but the forecast says it just didn't come together for this break. Those days are gone now.
It's not until the very end of the window that we get a proper mention. Let's look at Thursday the 4th of September. Again, the swell pumps up to 10ft from the S with a 13-second period and massive energy (2870). The wind is a clean cross-off from the SW. But once again, North Beach can't handle that much water. It's a clean, powerful mess that's only going to be for the absolute experts. Friday afternoon the 4th sees a drop to 8ft, but it's still a serious step up.
Honestly, the story here is mostly a blank run. The few days of proper energy are just way too big for what North Beach can handle cleanly. The lighter days don't have the wind. For a beach and pier setup like this with those winds, the kite surfers would have a much more interesting time on the bigger, messier days than we paddle guys would.
A tough forecast for the lineup. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, don't hold your breath.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | S 13 | S 11 | S 10 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 17 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 17 | S 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
440 | 316 | 151 | 67 | 490 | 1727 | 680 | 469 | 320 | 230 | 133 | 78 | 129 | 337 | 406 | 381 | 1359 | 1411 | 835 | 2094 | 2051 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:28AM1.22m | 9:28PM1.25m | 12:11PM1.16m | 00:48AM1.27m | 1:47PM1.32m | 1:52AM1.40m | 2:22PM1.50m | 2:28AM1.55m | 2:50PM1.67m | 2:57AM1.68m | 3:17PM1.82m | 3:25AM1.80m | 3:43PM1.94m | 3:52AM1.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:31PM0.94m | 5:06AM0.97m | 6:20PM1.00m | 7:26AM0.86m | 7:49PM0.85m | 8:07AM0.70m | 8:27PM0.69m | 8:37AM0.55m | 8:57PM0.54m | 9:04AM0.41m | 9:24PM0.40m | 9:31AM0.28m | 9:51PM0.30m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 11 | S 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | E 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 17 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 17 | S 17 |
440 | 316 | 151 | 66 | 69 | 9 | 6 | 469 | 320 | 230 | 133 | 78 | 92 | 337 | 406 | 381 | 1359 | 1411 | 835 | 2094 | 2051 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 14 | — | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 15 | ENE 5 | S 16 | S 7 | E 8 | S 11 | S 7 | S 17 | S 17 | S 17 | — |
21 | 21 | 20 | 67 | — | 4 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 43 | 9 | 129 | 39 | 6 | 63 | 110 | 835 | 702 | 1709 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | E 9 | — | SSW 17 | E 9 | SSW 15 | ENE 4 | E 8 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | 14 | — | 27 | 6 | 47 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | — | ENE 4 | — | SSW 4 | — | SSW 2 | S 5 | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 |
— | — | 5 | 23 | 490 | 1727 | 680 | — | — | — | 7 | — | 10 | — | 1 | 35 | — | — | 50 | 226 | 259 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 58 | 285 | 330 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 155 | 1214 | 2 | 714 | 714 | 423 |
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.











