Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,831 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with S 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Richards Bay (Inside) in the next 16 days are 1.7m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Richards Bay.
Right off the bat, it's a rough start. The first week is pretty much a write-off with poor surf conditions dominating. The swell is there, but the wind is just brutal. Tuesday the 28th kicks off with a weak, long-period 2-foot south swell, but that 25 km/h cross-shore wind is just trashing it. We get a bit of a bump in size through Wednesday and Thursday, but the wind stays howling from the southwest, keeping everything messy and lumpy. The combined energy gets up there, hitting 1160 on Thursday afternoon, but it's all wind-affected and cross-onshore by Friday. Not a single wave is worth paddling for.
There’s a tiny glimmer on Sunday morning, the 2nd of August. The swell drops a touch and the wind eases right off, but we’re still looking at a cross-onshore wind with an 8-foot swell from the ESE. The energy is serious at 1359, but the conditions are still marginal. The real standout is Monday, the 3rd of August. That’s the one to circle. The morning brings clear skies, a light offshore breeze from the north-northeast, and a clean 6-foot swell from the ESE. The period is a solid 10 seconds, and the energy is still punchy at 778. That’s your best bet for the whole run. The surf will be clean and well-shaped for an intermediate. That's the window.
After that, the swell backs right off through the rest of the first week and into the second. The wind stays clean but the waves are tiny, dropping below 3 feet. The second week looks flat and uninspiring until the 11th of August. That Tuesday morning shows another potential stand-out, over a week away. The forecast is for an 8-foot south swell, but with a short, weak period of 7 seconds. The energy is strong at 1132, and the wind is a light offshore from the north-northeast. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but if the wind holds, Richards Bay (Inside) could fire up again. The morning after that also looks clean but smaller.
So, overall, it’s a bleak start, but the 3rd of August is the real deal. Get in the water then.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon night, strong winds from the SW by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Thu night, light winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | S 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 86 | 222 | 261 | 1412 | 593 | 718 | 599 | 909 | 1093 | 1465 | 977 | 790 | 822 | 885 | 743 | 704 | 1344 | 1381 | 971 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:16AM1.64m | 3:38PM1.66m | 3:46AM1.74m | 4:07PM1.76m | 4:15AM1.82m | 4:36PM1.85m | 4:43AM1.87m | 5:04PM1.90m | 5:11AM1.88m | 5:32PM1.92m | 5:39AM1.86m | 6:01PM1.91m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:06PM0.43m | 9:27AM0.31m | 9:38PM0.33m | 9:56AM0.20m | 10:08PM0.25m | 10:24AM0.12m | 10:38PM0.19m | 10:51AM0.07m | 11:07PM0.17m | 11:18AM0.06m | 11:36PM0.17m | 11:47AM0.08m | 00:07AM0.20m | ||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 5:16 | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | S 18 | E 9 | SSW 15 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 18 | 222 | 63 | 616 | 237 | 212 | 599 | 60 | 67 | 52 | 453 | 134 | 625 | 885 | 743 | 704 | 1344 | 1381 | 971 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | S 15 | E 9 | S 15 | E 9 | — | — | — | E 11 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 14 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 86 | 48 | 70 | 87 | 157 | 106 | 172 | 60 | — | — | — | 63 | 129 | 44 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 39 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 9 | — | — | E 9 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | — | SW 13 | S 15 | S 11 | S 16 |
| kJ | 35 | 57 | — | — | 106 | — | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | 151 | 85 | — | 44 | 4 | 9 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 5 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 19 | 110 | 261 | 1412 | 593 | 718 | 31 | 909 | 1093 | 1465 | 977 | 790 | 822 | 311 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 55 | 1 | 1056 | 155 | 155 | 155 | 155 | 484 | 484 | 201 | 207 | 201 | 98 | 155 | 156 | 0 | 36 | 156 | 0 |
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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