North Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.84° S 31.04° E

North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's North Beach sea temperature is
21.3° C
0.0° 

North Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


North Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSW swell with 2,041 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with S 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at North Beach in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Thu 20th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 7s
Best Surf 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug)10ft (3.0m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, grab your board, let’s have a look at North Beach. The name of the game here is frustration. Over the next two weeks, we get teased with some decent swell energy but it’s almost always let down by gnarly winds or just the wrong conditions. The water temp is bang on average for the time of year at 70°, so no need for a thick wetsuit at least.

Right now and through the end of August, it’s a real struggle. The first solid push comes on the morning of Thursday the 20th with a south swell of 6 ft, period of 7 seconds, and moderate wave energy (535). But that 35 km/h cross-off wind is going to blow you sideways. Not the clean setup you want. The afternoon actually looks cleaner, but it drops to 5 ft and goes cross-shore. This gets a big thumbs down.

Friday the 21st holds some hope with a 4 ft south swell in the morning, period stretching to 13 seconds, which is long period groundswell, giving good shape. Combined energy is moderate at 542. But it’s cross-onshore from the NE and it’s not strong enough to overcome the chop. It’s a miss.

You’ve got to wait until the early morning of Sunday the 23rd. That’s the first real standout, but only for the committed. Swell jumps to 7 ft from the south, period 10 seconds, with moderate to strong combined energy (785). The wind is cross-off from the SSW at 20 km/h, making for a clean surface. This is a big, solid intermediate wave. Just keep in mind the long ride out – that period means longer gaps between sets. It’s a proper session. Just don’t paddle out if you’re a beginner; 7 ft is getting into the meaty zone.

After that, it’s a desert of poor conditions for many days. A lot of cross-onshore ENE winds chopping things up and short period slop. Nothing worth paddling out for until the afternoon of Saturday the 29th. That brings in a 5 ft southerly swell and 20 km/h cross-off winds from the SSW, which will clean it right up. The wave energy is moderate (310). It’s not a monster, but for a surfer wanting a clean, cruisy wave with no crowds, it’s your pick of the second week.

Fair warning: the first few days of September look rough. Strong cross-off winds and tiny swell. Then the morning of Wednesday, 2nd September, brings a surprise: a very long period 16-second groundswell from the SSW at just 2 ft, but the combined energy is moderate (458) because the period is so long. Winds are onshore and light from the ENE, which could make it glassy but the swell is just too small to get excited about.

To be honest, if you’ve got a kite, the setups on the 23rd and a few other windy days could be more fun than a paddle. For the regular surfer, mark your calendar for the morning of the 23rd of August. It’s the one chance for a proper, clean, solid wave. The rest is mostly a write-off.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
!
2
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
S
7
1.4
S
7
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
S
13
0.9
S
13
0.7
S
11
0.4
SSW
14
1.1
S
15
3
S
10
2
S
10
1.6
S
10
1.3
S
10
1.2
S
10
0.8
SSE
8
0.8
SSE
9
0.5
S
16
0.8
SSW
16
1
S
16
0.9
S
16
0.9
S
17
1.9
NE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
397
210
636
521
255
116
67
566
1698
771
472
333
290
85
106
132
337
542
406
459
321
Wind (km/h)
30
SSW
20
S
10
NNE
15
NE
15
NE
15
N
20
NE
50
SSW
25
SSW
20
SSW
10
SE
10
NW
15
ENE
10
ENE
15
SW
15
S
10
E
10
N
15
ENE
25
NE
20
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
8:04PM1.40m
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
Low Tide
1:39PM0.78m
2:29AM0.89m
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
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:18
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
5:37
 mm
Temp °C
20
20
19
19
20
19
23
27
20
20
20
18
19
20
19
20
20
19
19
21
19
Feels °C
15
16
19
18
18
18
21
25
12
16
17
19
17
18
20
18
19
19
17
19
17
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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