North Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.84° S 31.04° E

North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 13 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's North Beach sea temperature is
21.6° C
0.2° 

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 13 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, ENE swell with 867 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period with ESE 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 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at North Beach in the next 16 days are 2.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 13th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 13th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 8AM (Mon 17th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty.

First thing you gotta know – the next couple of weeks here at North Beach are a real mixed bag. We’re not talking about a clean, classic run at all. The wind is the main villain for most of the stretch, with a persistent cross-onshore flow that’s gonna mess up the surface. The swell energy is decent, moderate to strong, but it’s the wind that’s the problem.

Let’s look at the best of it. The real standout, and I mean the only time you should really be making plans, is Thursday morning, August 13th. That’s the window. The forecast is showing a glassy, clear morning with a light S wind at 3 mph. That’s the kind of wind that puts a smile on your face. The swell is coming in at 6 ft from the ESE with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 523. The call is for very good surf conditions. That’s your best bet, no question. Get out there early.

The next real glimmer is Thursday morning, August 20th. That’s over a week away. Clear skies, glassy conditions again with a light E wind at 3 mph. The swell is a similar 6 ft from the E, but the period drops to 7 seconds, and the energy is a bit higher at 631. It’s promising, but it’s a long way out. Later that afternoon, the wind shifts and the swell jumps to 8 ft, which is getting big, and the wind goes cross-onshore, so the morning is the only window.

For the rest of the time, it’s a struggle. From Friday the 14th through to the 19th, it’s a frustrating run of cross-onshore winds. The swell is there, but it’s going to be choppy and messy. The period is short, around 8-10 seconds, so it’s just wind-swell energy. If you’re desperate, the morning of Monday the 17th has a bigger pulse of swell at 6 ft and energy over 1000, but the wind is still cross-onshore, making it a marginal call. The 4 ft to 6 ft range is fine for intermediates, but the chop is the killer.

Later in the second week, we get a big pulse of NE swell. The morning of Wednesday the 26th sees a 10 ft swell from the NE with energy hitting 1657. That’s serious power. But the wind is a cross-onshore 16 mph. For a beach break like North Beach, that’s going to be a messy, lumpy mess. That kind of setup is honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The same goes for the 27th and 28th, with 8 ft swells and persistent cross-onshore winds.

So, the summary is: one glassy morning on the 13th is the clear winner. The 20th morning is a hopeful long-range prospect. Everything else is a fight against the wind.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue night).

Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
2
1
0
2
0
1
0
1
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)
1.7
ESE
8
1.2
SE
8
1.1
E
9
1.2
E
10
1.3
ESE
10
1.4
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.8
E
10
1.7
E
11
1.7
E
11
1.8
E
11
1.7
E
11
1.9
ENE
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.2
E
9
1.6
ENE
8
1.1
E
8
1.2
S
7
1.2
S
7
1.1
S
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
400
191
175
277
335
394
432
706
726
688
776
657
746
440
361
240
338
165
128
127
71
Wind (km/h)
5
S
10
E
10
NW
15
NE
25
NE
10
N
15
NE
20
NE
10
N
20
NE
25
NE
15
N
15
NE
15
NE
5
W
15
NE
10
NE
30
SSW
25
SSW
20
S
5
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
4:26PM2.07m
4:37AM2.00m
4:59PM2.09m
5:10AM1.98m
5:30PM2.06m
5:41AM1.91m
6:00PM1.97m
6:10AM1.80m
6:29PM1.85m
6:38AM1.67m
6:58PM1.71m
7:05AM1.52m
7:27PM1.56m
Low Tide
10:12AM0.12m
10:35PM0.18m
10:45AM0.09m
11:08PM0.18m
11:17AM0.12m
11:39PM0.23m
11:47AM0.20m
00:10AM0.33m
12:15PM0.32m
00:39AM0.45m
12:42PM0.46m
1:08AM0.59m
1:09PM0.61m
1:41AM0.74m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:32
 mm
6
Temp °C
17
18
17
18
19
18
19
20
19
19
20
18
21
22
20
22
24
20
19
19
19
Feels °C
16
16
16
15
15
16
16
17
18
16
17
16
18
19
23
19
21
17
15
15
18
  • 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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