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Surf Forecasts:

Pulpit surfForecast / Durban/KZN South / South Africa

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Saturday 17 Jan 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Pulpit surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Pulpit sea temperature is
24.6° C
 (Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pulpit this week:

The surf forecast for Pulpit over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Pulpit in the next 12 days are 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jan 24) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jan 22) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 20th Jan)3ft (0.9m) 12s
Best Surf11PM (Fri 23rd Jan)4.5ft (1.4m) 15s
Most Powerful11PM (Sat 24th Jan)8ft (2.5m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pulpit over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sun morning, light winds from the SW by Mon night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon).

Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Sat
24
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
2
2
0
2
0
0
0
3
1
1
0
0
3
0
2
4
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.3
E
3
SSW
3
S
2.5
S
1.4
SSW
1
E
0.9
SSW
1.1
E
1.1
E
1.1
E
1
E
1.1
E
0.9
E
0.8
SSW
2.1
ENE
2
ENE
1
SSW
1.3
SSW
1.4
SSW
1.3
SSW
2.5
SSW
Period(s) (?)107891010121313121312121278161614147
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)34782912951079411202242411411374330339235195403429493817800640635
Wind
(km/h)
20
NNE
45
SSW
40
S
20
SW
10
SSW
10
ESE
10
WSW
20
S
20
S
20
SSW
5
S
20
NE
25
NNE
25
NE
25
NE
5
NW
25
S
15
SSE
0
WSW
25
NE
30
NE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		crosscross-
on		crosscross-
on		oncross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		glasscrosscross-
off		crosscrossoffcross-
on		onglasscrosscross
High Tide
/ height (m)
3:50AM
1.55
3:57PM
1.64
4:20AM
1.64
4:26PM
1.70
4:50AM
1.72
4:55PM
1.73
5:19AM
1.76
5:25PM
1.73
5:50AM
1.78
5:55PM
1.69
6:21AM
1.76
6:28PM
1.62
6:56AM
1.70
7:03PM
1.51
Low Tide
/ height (m)
9:38PM
0.24
9:49AM
0.28
10:08PM
0.15
10:20AM
0.22
10:36PM
0.08
10:51AM
0.18
11:05PM
0.04
11:22AM
0.16
11:34PM
0.04
11:54AM
0.17
12:04AM
0.07
12:28PM
0.22
12:36AM
0.13
1:05PM
0.30
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Sat
24
Sunrise-5:11--5:11--5:13--5:13--5:15--5:16--5:16-
Sunset--7:00--7:00--7:00--7:00--6:59--6:59--6:59
part cloud
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
-1-22----5-----------
Temp. °C232324222022212424222123212527242727242829
Feels °C (?)241818172022212221212021182324252627282728
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Latest Updates

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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Pulpit surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Pulpit at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Pulpit Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Pulpit provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Pulpit can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pulpit 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 (Pulpit) 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 Pulpit 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.

Pulpit is 12 km (7 miles) from Umlazi. If you plan a holiday in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Umlazi. Umlazi has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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