Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, NE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, S swell with 2,748 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk surf. This is Rusty, and I’m breaking down the next few weeks for North Beach.
We’re starting off with a flat spell. Monday and Tuesday are pretty much write-offs, with nothing decent to ride. The water temp is 70°, which is about 0.7° cooler than usual for this time of year, so nothing wild.
The one bright spot in the whole forecast is the morning of Wednesday, August 26th. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the south, with a long 18-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and the combined wave energy is moderate at 641. The wind is light and cross-offshore, giving us clean, glassy conditions. This is the session to circle. The swell is small enough for the intermediate crew, but that long period will give the waves some punch. For a beach break, that long period can make the waves a bit too straight, but it’s still the best we’ll see.
From Thursday, August 27th, through the end of the month, the swell builds, but the wind turns nasty. It’s a strong, cross-onshore northeast wind, blowing 18 to 31 mph, turning the waves into a lumpy, blown-out mess. The swell gets big – 8ft, 10ft, even 12ft on Sunday, August 30th – with combined wave energy hitting very strong levels like 3187, but it’s unrideable. This is more of a kite-surfing scene than a paddle-in one.
We get a bit of a break on Monday, August 31st, with a light onshore wind. The swell is 7ft from the SSW, but with a short 8-second period, it’s not going to have much shape. It’s a marginal call at best.
The first week of September keeps things tough. There are a few windows with clean, cross-offshore winds, like the afternoon of September 2nd and the mornings of the 3rd and 5th, but the swell is either too small, too short-period, or the wind is too strong. On September 5th, the swell is 8ft from the south at 15 seconds, with a strong cross-offshore breeze, but the combined energy is very strong at 2917. That’s strictly for experts, and even then, the wind is howling.
To sum it up, the only real chance for a good session is the morning of Wednesday, August 26th. After that, it’s a long wait for clean conditions. Keep your eyes on the charts.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NE on Thu morning, strong winds from the NE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | S 18 | SSW 16 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 268 | 133 | 103 | 337 | 300 | 463 | 632 | 1197 | 2748 | 1094 | 683 | 597 | 533 | 1077 | 705 | 878 | 1428 | 1232 | 1901 | 1086 | 499 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:22PM1.50m | 2:28AM1.55m | 2:50PM1.67m | 2:57AM1.68m | 3:17PM1.82m | 3:25AM1.80m | 3:43PM1.94m | 3:52AM1.89m | 4:09PM2.04m | 4:18AM1.95m | 4:36PM2.08m | 4:45AM1.97m | 5:04PM2.09m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:07AM0.70m | 8:27PM0.69m | 8:37AM0.55m | 8:57PM0.54m | 9:04AM0.41m | 9:24PM0.40m | 9:31AM0.28m | 9:51PM0.30m | 9:57AM0.19m | 10:18PM0.22m | 10:23AM0.13m | 10:45PM0.19m | 10:51AM0.12m | 11:13PM0.20m | |||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 23 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 20 | 22 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | S 18 | SSW 16 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 268 | 133 | 103 | 337 | 300 | 463 | 632 | 1197 | 2748 | 1094 | 683 | 463 | 301 | 233 | 181 | 331 | 206 | 72 | 1245 | 1086 | 499 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 4 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 9 | SE 12 | ESE 6 | S 17 | S 16 | — | S 16 | S 15 | — | — | — | SSE 11 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 54 | 210 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 67 | 206 | 85 | — | 20 | 115 | — | — | — | 41 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSE 12 | SSW 17 | ENE 5 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 9 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 27 | 14 | 99 | 4 | 31 | 8 | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | ESE 5 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 4 | S 8 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 16 | — | — | 18 | — | — | 46 | 138 | 420 | 597 | 533 | 1077 | 705 | 878 | 1428 | 1232 | 1901 | 49 | 496 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 238 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 856 | 740 | 457 | 555 | 862 | 353 | 555 | 714 | 222 | 684 | 238 | 0 |
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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