Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, S swell with 868 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period with E 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 17) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s is also forecast. 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 1.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s get into it. Truth is, the next couple weeks are looking rough for any decent surf. The wind is gonna be your enemy, staying cross-onshore and keeping things messy.
Our main spot is North Beach, an exposed beach and pier break that usually gets waves, but the wind pattern is just going to wreck ’em. Water temp is around 70°F, which is right about average for this time of year.
From Sunday, August 16th through at least the 22nd, forget it. The wind is mostly cross-onshore from the NE at 9-16 mph, chopping everything up. Swell energy is weak to moderate, from 159 to 602. Not worth the drive.
Monday the 18th afternoon might look clean with a cross-off wind from the SSW at 16 mph, but the swell is tiny – only 4ft from the east with a short 9-second period. Weak energy (231) and no power.
There’s a small window Thursday the 20th morning – the wind goes cross-off from the SSW at 16 mph, giving clean conditions. Swell is 5ft from the south with a short 7-second period. Energy is moderate (344), but the waves will be soft and crumbly.
Friday the 21st has a very long period groundswell – 16 seconds from the south with 4ft of swell (energy 903). That’s proper energy. But the wind is still cross-onshore from the NE at 16 mph, so it’s gonna be messy. If you’re desperate, paddle out, but it won’t be pretty.
The best chance for something clean is Monday, August 24th morning. Swell hits 8ft from the south with a very long 17-second period. The combined energy is a massive 3449. This is a powerful, dangerous groundswell. The catch? Wind is cross-onshore from the NE at 16 mph, keeping it choppy. This is for experts only. The swell is over 8ft and that long period will mean long lulls between big sets. At a beach break, it’s going to be a mission to get out.
Looking ahead, Thursday, August 27th morning has a 7ft east-northeast swell with an 8-second period and gentle cross-onshore breeze at 9 mph (energy 866). Still choppy, but smaller and more manageable for an intermediate surfer.
Honestly, this 16-day outlook is a real bummer. The constant onshore wind kills any chance of good waves. The one real standout is that big groundswell on the 24th, but the onshore wind makes it a messy, expert-only affair. For the rest, you’re looking at small, weak, or choppy slop. Better to wait for a change in the weather.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri night, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 15 | S 7 | S 6 | SSW 15 | S 16 | SSW 15 | NE 6 | S 12 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 526 | 536 | 683 | 541 | 671 | 408 | 241 | 196 | 152 | 115 | 89 | 362 | 176 | 111 | 135 | 868 | 543 | 209 | 341 | 326 | 456 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:00PM1.97m | 6:10AM1.80m | 6:29PM1.85m | 6:38AM1.67m | 6:58PM1.71m | 7:05AM1.52m | 7:27PM1.56m | 7:37AM1.37m | 8:04PM1.40m | 8:28AM1.22m | 9:28PM1.25m | 12:11PM1.16m | 00:48AM1.27m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:47AM0.20m | 00:10AM0.33m | 12:15PM0.32m | 00:39AM0.45m | 12:42PM0.46m | 1:08AM0.59m | 1:09PM0.61m | 1:41AM0.74m | 1:39PM0.78m | 2:29AM0.89m | 2:31PM0.94m | 5:06AM0.97m | 6:20PM1.00m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | S 6 | S 16 | SSW 15 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 7 |
| kJ | 526 | 536 | 683 | 541 | 500 | 408 | 241 | 196 | 152 | 115 | 89 | 132 | 44 | 49 | 81 | 868 | 543 | 110 | 66 | 27 | 236 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 16 | S 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 13 | — | — | E 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 43 | 76 | — | 107 | 94 | 135 | 31 | 11 | 178 | — | — | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | S 12 | S 11 | S 17 | S 18 | SSW 11 | SW 17 | S 4 | — | — | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 7 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | ENE 10 | — | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | ENE 5 | SSW 15 | S 7 | S 6 | — | NE 3 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | S 12 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | — | 29 | 40 | 48 | 671 | — | 11 | 12 | 7 | — | 33 | 362 | 176 | 111 | — | 4 | 44 | 209 | 341 | 326 | 456 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 238 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 107 | 330 | 285 | 5 | 665 | 5 | 0 | 155 | 1267 | 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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