Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, SSE swell with 6,888 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 2AM (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 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Richards Bay (Inside) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for Richards Bay.
We’ve got a long 16-day window ahead, but honestly, most of it is a write-off. The whole first week and a half is plagued by messy winds, building swell, and poor conditions. The first real glimmer of something worthwhile doesn’t show up until Friday the 11th of September. That’s a solid stretch of nothing to get excited about, so don’t hold your breath before then.
The ocean’s going to be a mess for days. Swell energy is moderate to strong through the first week, hitting values like 537 and 819, but it’s all blown out by cross and cross-onshore winds. Even when the swell drops, the wind keeps things ugly. The water temp is sitting around 70°, which is about average for this time of year, so your wettie choice is standard.
Now, the standout – and I mean the only real standout – is Friday morning, the 11th of September at Richards Bay (Inside). This is a sandbar setup, and it’s consistent. We’ve got a clean, offshore NNE wind, light at 9 mph, which is a massive positive. The swell is 5 ft from the ESE, with a period of 11 seconds, giving it decent energy (489). That’s moderate wave energy, but with a clean face and offshore wind, it’ll be the best shape we’ve seen in days. The direction is spot on for this break’s optimum S swell exposure, so expect lined-up waves. Crowds are possible here, but for a session that’s actually rideable, it’s worth it.
Before that, we’ve got a few “marginal” moments – like Saturday afternoon the 5th of September with 8 ft from the SW, but it’s cross-on and choppy, barely a 2/10 call. The big stuff from the 6th to the 9th is huge – 13 ft to 16 ft swell with gale-force winds. That’s not for paddling; that’s kite territory if anything. The combined energy hits 8483 and 13958 – very strong, but it’s blowing a gale. No good for a surf.
After the 11th, it fades again. The 12th and 13th have small, weak swell and cross-shore winds, nothing to write home about. The 14th is a total dud, with tiny 2 ft swell and strong onshore wind.
So, to sum it up: if you’re a surfer in Richards Bay, mark Friday the 11th of September morning. That’s your window. It’s not huge, but it’s clean, it’s offshore, and it’s the only real chance in a very long run of poor conditions. The rest? Leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Wed morning, min 18°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NE by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the NE by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | E 9 | S 14 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 198 | 211 | 171 | 130 | 94 | 193 | 39 | 107 | 291 | 566 | 189 | 85 | 236 | 693 | 1250 | 1826 | 688 | 783 | 778 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:13AM1.95m | 5:31PM2.03m | 5:42AM1.88m | 6:01PM1.93m | 6:12AM1.76m | 6:34PM1.78m | 6:46AM1.60m | 7:12PM1.59m | 7:29AM1.41m | 8:07PM1.38m | 8:47AM1.21m | 10:24PM1.22m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:43PM0.56m | 2:33AM0.71m | 3:18PM0.76m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | |
 | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | 5:36 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 22 | 33 | 28 | 22 | 33 | 32 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 30 | 28 | 18 | 27 | 26 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | S 8 | E 9 | E 7 | ENE 8 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 198 | 211 | 171 | 130 | 94 | 5 | 39 | 97 | 101 | 566 | 189 | 85 | 171 | 90 | 36 | 1826 | 688 | 81 | 61 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 10 | SE 5 | S 8 | S 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 15 | ENE 8 | — | — | ENE 10 | E 9 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 80 | 46 | 48 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 19 | 107 | 291 | 101 | — | — | 36 | 61 | 17 | 47 | 60 | 141 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSW 9 | SSE 11 | S 9 | SE 10 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 13 | 8 | 11 | 37 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 78 | 222 | 72 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 5 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | SSW 4 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | S 9 | — | SW 6 | S 9 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 34 | — | 11 | 193 | 95 | 138 | 11 | 130 | 209 | 566 | 236 | 693 | 1250 | — | 120 | 783 | 778 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 88 | 155 | 116 | 156 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 372 | 559 | 55 | 231 | 2004 | 123 | 372 | 391 | 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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