
Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 17s period, S swell with 2,624 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period with SSW 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. 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 2.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) 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 1.6m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here.
Looks like we’ve got a bit of a flat spell on our hands before anything shows up. The first real surf recommendation isn’t until the morning of Thursday, the 5th of September. Up to that point, it’s basically unsurfable: choppy, windy, and just poor conditions with very low energy.
Thursday, 5th September morning is where it starts to get interesting. North Beach is showing some 8ft swell from the SSE at 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (1087). Water temp is 68°, about a degree colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit. The wind is light from the NE, but it’s cross-onshore, so expect small ripples on the face. It’s not perfect, but after the dry spell, it’s the best on offer. This one is for intermediate surfers – the 8ft is manageable. The swell direction is ENE, which is a bit off the optimum SE direction for North Beach, but still worth a look.
Friday, 6th September drops right off. The morning has 4ft from the E with moderate cross-onshore wind and the energy is weak (512). Afternoon is even smaller at 4ft with moderate onshore wind and choppy conditions. Not worth paddling out.
Saturday, 7th September morning is a genuine standout. This is the one to lock in. North Beach gets a solid 7ft of swell from the S, but look at that period – 17 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell, which means proper energy and shape, but at a beach break like North Beach, it might break a bit straight. The combined energy is very strong (2854). The catch? The NE wind is a strong 25 mph cross-onshore, which is going to make it messy and bumpy. This is for experts only – that 7ft, with that long period, will pack a punch and the wind will make it tricky. The swell direction from the S is a good match for the optimum. Just be aware of the crowd factor – North Beach can get busy, but on this day, the wind might thin them out.
Sunday, 8th September fades to 3ft from the S (13 seconds) and onshore wind. Not much happening.
From there, it’s a long gap of poor conditions again. Most of the following week through to the 17th is just small, onshore, and choppy. The energy stays low to weak, and the wind is nearly always cross-onshore from the NE or ENE. The only exception is Tuesday morning, 17th September, where we get a clean 3ft from the ENE with a nice cross-off SSW breeze at 19 mph. That’s clean but tiny – marginal at best for a shortboard. The energy is weak (209).
So here’s the verdict: Saturday, the 7th of September morning is the big one. It’s a proper groundswell, powerful and deep, but it’s a wind-warmer. If you’ve got the chops for it, that’s your session. For the intermediates, the Thursday, the 5th of September morning is your best bet for something rideable and not too heavy.
Stay wet,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 34°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the SW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Sat morning, strong winds from the NE by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | S 22 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
140 | 337 | 416 | 371 | 454 | 385 | 690 | 2058 | 1561 | 883 | 645 | 318 | 246 | 194 | 453 | 2624 | 1420 | 561 | 326 | 237 | 243 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 6:36PM1.81m | 6:50AM1.63m | 7:14PM1.63m | 7:38AM1.45m | 8:11PM1.44m | 9:12AM1.29m | 10:28PM1.30m | 12:19PM1.33m | 00:53AM1.40m | 1:37PM1.54m | 1:54AM1.59m | 2:21PM1.75m | 2:35AM1.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:20PM0.36m | 00:47AM0.49m | 12:57PM0.54m | 1:31AM0.65m | 1:46PM0.74m | 2:44AM0.82m | 3:39PM0.92m | 5:32AM0.86m | 6:39PM0.85m | 7:14AM0.69m | 7:49PM0.65m | 8:04AM0.49m | 8:32PM0.45m | ||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 7 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 19 | 34 | 32 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 20 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | ENE 7 |
140 | 90 | 416 | 169 | 75 | 385 | 82 | 48 | 1561 | 883 | 645 | 297 | 246 | 194 | 94 | 2624 | 1420 | 561 | 326 | 187 | 158 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | E 8 | SSW 14 | — | — | E 10 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | S 22 | E 10 | — | S 19 | S 16 | — | S 11 |
125 | 337 | 69 | 145 | — | — | 68 | 15 | 50 | 94 | 96 | 318 | 117 | 91 | 453 | 33 | — | 7 | 5 | — | 83 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | S 5 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | S 18 | — | SSW 12 |
54 | 16 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 110 | 103 | 71 | 149 | 143 | 96 | — | — | — | 6 | — | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
13 | — | 44 | 371 | 454 | 360 | 690 | 2058 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 197 | 471 | 358 | 244 | 237 | 243 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 154 | 1 | 0 | 219 | 238 | 238 | 1424 | 2611 | 721 | 5 | 1238 | 2 | 5 | 1214 | 107 | 695 | 695 | 219 | 5 | 5 | 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.










