Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, S swell with 2,319 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period with E 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) 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 2.4m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down in feet and knots.
Looking at the whole 16-day picture for Richards Bay (Inside), it’s a bit of a rough stretch. The water is sitting at 71°F, which is dead average for this time of year. The first real chance to surf something decent doesn’t roll in until Monday the 31st.
Monday the 31st, the morning goes glassy with a light NNE breeze. Swell is from the east at 3 feet with a 9-second period. The energy is weak (264), but it’s clean and rideable. The afternoon gets choppy again.
Tuesday the 1st of September morning is another glassy window. Calm winds, no wind at all, with 3 feet of east swell. Small and clean, energy is low (157). The afternoon gets lumpy with a cross-shore breeze.
The first week is full of marginal days. Wednesday the 2nd has some SSW swell but the wind is messy. Thursday the 3rd sees a long-period 15-second south swell, but the wind is cross-offshore and the surf is still poor. There’s energy (456), but the conditions aren’t cooperating.
Now, the big standout is Friday the 11th of September. Friday morning shows a solid 7-foot SE swell with a 10-second period and a cross-offshore NNE wind. Energy is over 1000 (1010). But the real winner is Friday afternoon. The wind goes glass – dead calm – with a 7-foot SE swell at 11 seconds. Energy is still over 1000 (1001) and the forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." That is the session to wait for. It’s over 5 feet, so it’s for intermediates and above, and the 11-second period will mean nice, lined-up waves.
Saturday the 12th of September still has size, 5 feet in the morning from the ESE, but the wind turns onshore from the SSE, so it gets messy.
So, the first week is mostly a bust with a couple of tiny, clean mornings. The one to lock in is Friday afternoon the 11th of September. It’s a long way out, so stay tuned, but that’s the one with the most potential.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 18°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 5 | NE 6 | SSW 5 | S 8 | S 7 | S 13 | S 12 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 195 | 217 | 117 | 418 | 375 | 287 | 292 | 207 | 168 | 157 | 173 | 119 | 102 | 86 | 398 | 152 | 115 | 169 | 2272 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 4:18AM1.96m | 4:36PM2.05m | 4:45AM1.98m | 5:03PM2.07m | 5:13AM1.95m | 5:31PM2.03m | 5:42AM1.88m | 6:01PM1.93m | 6:12AM1.76m | 6:34PM1.78m | 6:46AM1.60m | 7:12PM1.59m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:14PM0.08m | 10:24AM-0.03m | 10:42PM0.03m | 10:50AM-0.05m | 11:10PM0.03m | 11:18AM-0.02m | 11:39PM0.08m | 11:47AM0.06m | 00:10AM0.18m | 12:19PM0.18m | 00:45AM0.33m | 12:56PM0.36m | 1:27AM0.52m | ||||||
 |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | 5:35 | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 31 | 31 | 22 |
Feels °C | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 27 | 25 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | S 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | S 7 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | S 7 | S 7 | ENE 6 | E 8 |
| kJ | 195 | 217 | 117 | 418 | 375 | 287 | 200 | 207 | 168 | 157 | 173 | 4 | 74 | 86 | 66 | 152 | 59 | 103 | 28 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | — | SSW 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 9 | S 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 5 | SE 10 | S 11 | SSW 14 | E 8 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | E 9 | S 19 |
| kJ | 84 | — | 12 | 81 | 24 | 12 | 194 | 62 | 11 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 69 | 68 | 130 | 115 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | S 8 | S 12 | S 15 | S 7 | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 8 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | 51 | 50 | 39 | 39 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NNE 5 | SSW 5 | S 7 | SSW 7 | — | SSE 6 | — | NE 4 | E 5 | NE 6 | SSW 5 | S 8 | — | NE 4 | S 12 | S 9 |
| kJ | 275 | 296 | 502 | 91 | 110 | 215 | 292 | — | 56 | — | 8 | 119 | 102 | 84 | 398 | — | 8 | 169 | 2272 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 630 | 204 | 563 | 587 | 116 | 1 | 391 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 1 | 0 | 156 | 117 | 391 | 0 | 116 | 391 | 2482 |
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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