Surf Forecasts:
North Beach surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, NE swell with 1,882 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with NE 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 2.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at North Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11PM. 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, so North Beach. Thursday and Friday are washed out with that onshore garbage. Not worth the drive. Saturday’s the same story.
Sunday the 30th, the wind finally rights itself. It’s a clean cross-off from the SSW. Swell is 5.2 feet out of the ENE, with moderate juice. It’s not pumping, but it’s clean, and after the last few days, that’s a win.
Monday afternoon looks good, too. A bit of rain clears the air, and you get a clean 4-foot swell from the East, with a nice 10-second interval. It'll be clean and small.
The main event is Wednesday, September 9th. Light easterly wind, almost glassy. The swell jumps to a beefy 8.2 feet from the ENE. That’s got some power behind it, over 1400 units of energy. That’s a solid session waiting to happen, just watch out because a long-period east swell can be a little walled-off at this beach. Water’s about 70°, normal for this time of year.
After that, things peter out fast. The wind messes up again, and the swell gets weak. The second week looks like a ghost town. The one to circle on the calendar is that Wednesday morning.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, strong winds from the SSW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
769 | 649 | 408 | 629 | 593 | 593 | 1108 | 1441 | 466 | 375 | 246 | 240 | 262 | 171 | 127 | 295 | 369 | 277 | 360 | 329 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:43PM1.94m | 3:52AM1.89m | 4:09PM2.04m | 4:18AM1.95m | 4:36PM2.08m | 4:45AM1.97m | 5:04PM2.09m | 5:13AM1.95m | 5:32PM2.04m | 5:42AM1.88m | 6:03PM1.95m | 6:14AM1.78m | 6:36PM1.81m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:51PM0.30m | 9:57AM0.19m | 10:18PM0.22m | 10:23AM0.13m | 10:45PM0.19m | 10:51AM0.12m | 11:13PM0.20m | 11:19AM0.15m | 11:42PM0.26m | 11:48AM0.23m | 00:13AM0.35m | 12:20PM0.36m | 00:47AM0.49m | |||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | S 6 | SSW 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 |
769 | 649 | 377 | 292 | 184 | 256 | 187 | 878 | 466 | 375 | 246 | 240 | 262 | 171 | 127 | 17 | 37 | 277 | 116 | 55 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | — | S 16 | SSE 16 | S 15 | — | — | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 5 | S 9 | S 10 | E 9 | SSW 14 | NE 8 |
278 | — | 46 | 86 | 161 | — | — | 99 | 41 | 24 | 104 | 69 | 11 | 10 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 181 | 18 | 23 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 14 | — | — | — | SSW 17 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 18 | 28 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | 28 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | — | — | SSE 6 | S 5 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | SSW 3 | S 7 | S 8 |
266 | 333 | 408 | 629 | 593 | 593 | 1108 | 1441 | 109 | 190 | — | — | 37 | 71 | — | 295 | 369 | 15 | 360 | 329 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 695 | 894 | 353 | 409 | 476 | 353 | 433 | 476 | 78 | 238 | 684 | 2 | 54 | 238 | 0 | 153 | 334 | 1 | 1 | 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.











