
Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with 1,259 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what North Beach is doing over these next couple weeks.
We’ve got a bit of a rough start, but there is a real bright spot mid-week. The one you want to aim for is the morning of Thursday, August 13th.
That Thursday morning is the pick of the whole run. Swell is a solid 1.7m from the ESE with a 9-second period. Combined energy is moderate (535). The best part? The wind is glassy, dead still. That’s gonna make North Beach super clean, with smooth, peeling waves. It’s an exposed beach and pier spot, so that ESE swell will wrap in with some nice shape. For an intermediate surfer, that’s your window.
Before that, Wednesday the 12th is messy with a cross-on wind and rain showers. Swell is 2.4m to 2.5m from the ESE, combined energy moderate to strong (1318), but the onshore wind churns it up, and it’s too big for a fun session. After that Thursday window, it all goes south. Friday the 14th onward, the NE wind locks in cross-on. Swell drops to 1.5m and smaller, and it stays lumpy through the weekend. By Monday the 17th, swells are down to 1.4m with a 25 km/h cross-on wind.
There’s a long stretch of poor conditions from the 14th through to the 26th. A couple of little blips pop up – the morning of Tuesday the 18th has a tiny 1.0m swell with the wind shifting cross-off from the SSW at 40 km/h – but combined energy is weak (201), and it’s just not worth the hassle.
Around the 22nd of August we see a bigger 2.2m ENE swell (combined energy 1141), but you’ve got a 20 km/h NE wind blowing cross-on and messy. That’s more of a kite-surfing situation. Same for the afternoon of the 21st, with a 2.3m ENE swell (combined energy 940) and 45 km/h winds. Strong, choppy, and ugly.
So, put all your eggs in the Thursday August 13th morning basket. That’s your only real standout. After that, it’s a long wait for conditions to come around again.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue night, min 14°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue morning, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
705 | 418 | 846 | 866 | 973 | 707 | 409 | 331 | 252 | 235 | 410 | 849 | 946 | 875 | 785 | 676 | 663 | 566 | 443 | 424 | 354 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:12PM1.86m | 3:25AM1.88m | 3:50PM2.00m | 4:03AM1.96m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:56AM0.33m | 9:21PM0.35m | 9:36AM0.20m | 9:59PM0.24m | 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 | |||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | |
mm | 3 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 9 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
587 | 307 | 846 | 866 | 973 | 707 | 409 | 331 | 252 | 235 | 410 | 849 | 946 | 875 | 785 | 676 | 663 | 566 | 443 | 424 | 354 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 24 | SSW 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
228 | 158 | 345 | 426 | 11 | 36 | 83 | 47 | 112 | 29 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 24 | S 14 | S 23 | SSW 22 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SW 15 | S 14 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 15 |
68 | 163 | 102 | 14 | 55 | 34 | 41 | 47 | 45 | 31 | 7 | 36 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | N 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 5 |
705 | 418 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 16 | 19 | 13 | 4 | 20 | 20 | 37 | 83 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 779 | 1240 | 907 | 907 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 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.











