Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, S swell with 1,853 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with SSW 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 (Aug 21) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. 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 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right. Rusty here. I've stared at the charts for Richards Bay Inside for the next couple of weeks, and I've got to be honest with you - it's not looking like a classic run. We're in for a long stretch of mostly poor conditions, so let's get into the nitty-gritty.
For the first week, it's pretty grim. We start off with a solid pulse of swell but it's completely blown out. Thursday the 20th has a decent 8ft southerly swell (energy of 862), but that howling 25 mph SSW crosswind is just going to turn it into a washing machine. That's expert level in size and a total mess. It's too big for any fun on the sandbar. Friday the 21st morning is actually the best chance in this whole outlook if you're desperate. We get a clean 4ft south swell, with a very long period of 14 seconds (energy of 745 - good groundswell). The wind is a light 6 mph ENE cross - nearly glassy. This is the standout. The water temp is a pretty standard 71°, about average for the time of year, so no worries there. The longer period swell means it will have good shape, but at a sandbar it can sometimes go a bit fat and straight between sets. Focus on that Friday morning session, because it goes downhill again that afternoon. The rest of the week is a write-off - Saturday the 22nd has a tiny 2ft swell, and Sunday the 23rd brings another 8ft lumpy south swell, but again with messy winds. That's too much water moving for a beginner.
We then hit a major dead zone. From Monday the 25th of August right through to the end of the month, we're looking at wave heights mostly under 3ft and onshore or strong cross-shore winds. There are a few "clean" moments under the cross-off labels, but the swell is too small to get excited about. Expect days of flatness.
As we turn the corner into September, there's a flicker of hope on Monday the 1st of September, but the wind is again strong and cross, making a 6ft swell unrideable. Tuesday the 2nd has a very small, long-period ghost swell (2ft at 17 seconds, energy 399), but it's a whisper. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are just small, lumpy, and blown out. Honestly, for the vast majority of this 16-day window, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the consistent strong winds on offer at a beach setup.
The only real, true standout is Friday the 21st of August morning at Richards Bay Inside. A clean, glassy window with a proper long-period groundswell. Don't waste it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 18°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun morning, light winds from the WNW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 8 | S 8 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 17 | S 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 826 | 371 | 432 | 665 | 485 | 233 | 193 | 188 | 940 | 1351 | 776 | 459 | 210 | 260 | 88 | 132 | 330 | 781 | 612 | 573 | 580 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:00PM1.30m | 8:19AM1.16m | 9:22PM1.14m | 11:55AM1.07m | 00:58AM1.18m | 1:46PM1.22m | 1:57AM1.34m | 2:24PM1.40m | 2:31AM1.51m | 2:52PM1.57m | 2:59AM1.66m | 3:19PM1.74m | 3:26AM1.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:44PM0.65m | 2:19AM0.76m | 2:39PM0.82m | 4:37AM0.88m | 6:12PM0.88m | 7:29AM0.77m | 7:46PM0.73m | 8:12AM0.59m | 8:24PM0.57m | 8:41AM0.42m | 8:53PM0.41m | 9:07AM0.27m | 9:21PM0.27m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 32 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 28 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | S 13 | SSE 7 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | E 8 | E 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 17 | S 17 |
| kJ | 36 | 92 | 160 | 665 | 485 | 233 | 193 | 188 | 12 | 6 | 776 | 459 | 210 | 260 | 88 | 57 | 330 | 781 | 612 | 573 | 580 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | E 8 | SSW 16 | SSE 7 | — | E 8 | E 8 | — | NE 6 | — | E 8 | E 9 | S 12 | E 9 | ENE 5 | S 16 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | SSW 14 | S 17 |
| kJ | 4 | 34 | 432 | 51 | — | 44 | 10 | — | 5 | — | 6 | 6 | 103 | 6 | 8 | 132 | 45 | 19 | 6 | 41 | 465 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 6 | ESE 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | SSW 14 | ESE 8 | S 9 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 21 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 66 | 24 | 37 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | S 8 | S 10 | — | — | NE 3 | ENE 4 | — | SSW 4 | — | — | NE 3 | NE 5 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 826 | 371 | — | — | 60 | 65 | 39 | 97 | 940 | 1351 | — | — | 2 | 40 | — | 26 | — | — | 3 | 106 | 107 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 484 | 484 | 0 | 156 | 156 | 0 | 156 | 1013 | 207 | 484 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 156 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 156 | 649 | 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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