Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, S swell with 3,105 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period with SE 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 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. 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 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, talking surf for the local stretch at Richards Bay (Inside). Let’s run through the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, the first week is pretty flat and messy. The wind is swinging around, and the waves are small. Water temp is 70°, which is pretty normal for the season.
The real action starts up on Monday the 10th of August. We’ve got a big 12 ft swell from the SE rolling in with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 3252. That’s a serious amount of power. But the wind is screaming from the SSW at 25 mph, making it a cross-shore, choppy mess. That’s strictly for the experts, and it’s going to be a rough one. The afternoon is a bit smaller at 8 ft but still lumpy.
The best window is Tuesday the 11th of August. The swell drops to a still-solid 7 ft from the south, with a very long 15-second period. The wind is light from the SW at 9 mph, and it’s a gentle cross-shore. The combined energy is a strong 1923. This is the day. That long period will give you proper, well-shaped waves with good power, and the clean conditions will make it magic. It’s still a decent size, so it’s for the experienced paddlers, but the quality is top-notch.
Wednesday the 12th is also good. A 4 ft SSE groundswell on a very long 17-second period, with a cross-offshore wind from the north at 16 mph. Clean conditions and the energy is still pumping (1699). It’s smaller, but the shape and light wind will give you some fun, long rides.
After that, the swell drops right off. There’s a little bump on Sunday the 16th with a 6 ft SSW swell, but the period is short (6 seconds) and the wind is up to 19 mph, which is just a windy mess.
So, circle Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th. That long-period groundswell with the light, clean wind is the highlight. The inside sandbar can get busy, so don’t expect solitude.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 18 | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | ENE 5 | S 7 | S 8 | S 10 | S 11 | S 14 | E 8 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 996 | 680 | 480 | 416 | 327 | 192 | 168 | 126 | 118 | 158 | 147 | 118 | 101 | 110 | 546 | 568 | 479 | 181 | 100 | 84 | 1817 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:32PM1.85m | 6:41AM1.70m | 7:07PM1.76m | 7:18AM1.57m | 7:49PM1.62m | 8:04AM1.42m | 8:47PM1.46m | 9:18AM1.27m | 10:29PM1.34m | 11:37AM1.22m | 00:37AM1.39m | 1:24PM1.37m | 1:54AM1.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:17PM0.13m | 00:40AM0.27m | 12:50PM0.23m | 1:18AM0.38m | 1:28PM0.35m | 2:04AM0.52m | 2:17PM0.51m | 3:12AM0.66m | 3:39PM0.66m | 5:10AM0.72m | 5:52PM0.68m | 7:05AM0.61m | 7:31PM0.54m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |  | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 26 | 28 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 27 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 11 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 996 | 680 | 480 | 416 | 327 | 192 | 168 | 126 | 118 | 96 | 44 | 83 | 61 | 60 | 81 | 568 | 479 | 181 | 81 | 84 | 99 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | NE 5 | S 11 | S 15 | NE 6 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | S 14 | S 13 | NE 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 21 | 50 | 42 | 35 | 17 | 14 | 22 | 10 | 17 | 29 | 94 | 20 | 101 | 89 | 23 | 67 | 68 | 90 | 85 | 48 | 80 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | SE 12 | S 12 | S 17 | S 19 | S 18 | S 17 | S 15 | SSW 7 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | — |
| kJ | 54 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 29 | 158 | 147 | 118 | 9 | 24 | 104 | 103 | 139 | 159 | 100 | 59 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SW 4 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | S 7 | — | ENE 2 | NNE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 20 | 25 | 45 | 32 | 45 | 80 | 84 | 5 | 21 | 110 | 546 | — | 1 | 31 | 50 | 112 | 1817 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 156 | 116 | 0 | 156 | 36 | 0 | 588 | 0 | 58 | 155 | 55 | 0 | 630 | 36 | 0 | 55 | 513 |
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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