Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 21s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, S swell with 2,897 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Richards Bay (Inside) this week:
The surf forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Richards Bay (Inside) in the next 16 days are 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down what’s coming up at Richards Bay (Inside). It’s a lean few weeks, with a lot of wind and chop. The first decent opportunity is a long way off, so don’t be in a rush.
The early going is rough. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are blown out with fresh to strong cross-shore winds and messy surf. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are onshore and weak, with swell around 5 to 6 ft and short periods. Monday morning, September 7th, there’s a 7 ft S swell with an 18-second period and combined energy of 2874 – that’s serious groundswell energy. But the NE wind at 12-15 mph keeps it lumpy. It’s only a marginal bet.
The real keeper comes on Monday, September 14th. Both the morning and afternoon sessions have a clean 6 ft S swell, period 14-15 seconds, combined energy around 1822 to 1906. Wind is cross-offshore from the NNE to NE at 18-22 mph, so the surface should be glassy clean. This is the best window in the whole run – solid size, proper power, and favorable wind. It’s not for beginners at that height, but for intermediates and above, it’s worth the wait.
After that, it fades fast. Tuesday the 15th is smaller and windier, and the rest of the forecast is onshore slop or blown-out chop. Even a 12 ft swell on Thursday the 18th has cross-on winds and is predicted to be too big for this spot.
Richards Bay Inside usually delivers fairly consistently, so this long stretch of poor surf is a bummer, but that Monday the 14th is a genuine highlight. Keep an eye on it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the SSW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the NE by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 4 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 22 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 620 | 257 | 125 | 50 | 1084 | 1667 | 1783 | 482 | 429 | 322 | 315 | 232 | 602 | 2777 | 2105 | 720 | 377 | 222 | 111 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:46AM1.60m | 7:12PM1.59m | 7:29AM1.41m | 8:07PM1.38m | 8:47AM1.21m | 10:24PM1.22m | 12:06PM1.21m | 00:55AM1.33m | 1:34PM1.43m | 1:55AM1.53m | 2:21PM1.67m | 2:36AM1.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:45AM0.33m | 12:56PM0.36m | 1:27AM0.52m | 1:43PM0.56m | 2:33AM0.71m | 3:18PM0.76m | 5:17AM0.79m | 6:25PM0.74m | 7:14AM0.61m | 7:44PM0.53m | 8:05AM0.39m | 8:29PM0.33m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | 5:37 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 33 | 33 | 28 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 19 |
Feels °C | 21 | 27 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 |
| kJ | 620 | 257 | 125 | 206 | 61 | 47 | 17 | 482 | 429 | 322 | 315 | 232 | 170 | 2777 | 2105 | 720 | 377 | 222 | 111 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 9 | — | — | E 10 | NE 7 | S 18 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 22 | ESE 7 | — | ESE 10 | E 10 | S 18 | S 17 |
| kJ | 99 | 38 | — | — | 48 | 19 | 6 | 480 | 308 | 138 | 149 | 146 | 602 | 62 | — | 19 | 18 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | S 15 | S 15 | E 9 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 10 | — | — | — | E 10 | E 16 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 73 | 104 | 61 | 41 | 36 | 106 | — | — | — | 31 | 5 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 4 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 174 | 161 | 644 | 50 | 1084 | 1667 | 1783 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 173 | 154 | 118 | 411 | 205 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 372 | 559 | 88 | 1282 | 1371 | 649 | 156 | 156 | 0 | 156 | 156 | 50 | 867 | 867 | 204 | 610 | 626 | 156 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Richards Bay (Inside) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Richards Bay (Inside) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Richards Bay (Inside) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Richards Bay (Inside) 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 (Richards Bay (Inside)) 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 Richards Bay (Inside) 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.
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