Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, giving you the outlook for the next couple of weeks in feet and miles per hour. It ain’t a classic run, but there’s a couple of windows where things line up.

We’re starting with some rough sledding. For the first few days, it’s just junk. A solid 10ft southeast swell hits on Tuesday August 11, but the wind is howling onshore from the south, smashing it all up. The combined energy is high at 1387, but it’s messy and not worth a paddle. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than surfboarding. That continues through Wednesday with rain and onshore wind, so stay out.

Thursday the 13th is still marginal – the swell drops to 6ft, but the wind is cross-shore and the energy drops to 642. Might see a couple, but don't hold your breath.

Now, Friday morning August 14 is where we see a glimmer. Swell is a clean 5ft from the ESE, but the real story is the wind – dead glassy. That’s the kind of clean you wait for. The energy is moderate at 452. It’s a solid option for an intermediate surfer wanting a smooth session at Richards Bay (Inside). The water temp is about average for this time of year, at 71°.

But the real standout of the whole forecast is Saturday morning August 15. This is the one to mark on the calendar. The swell is 6ft from the ESE with a nice 11-second period – a proper groundswell with some grunt. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE, keeping the surface clean. The energy bumps up to a moderate 726. This is going to shape up nicely. It’s an intermediate-sized wave, fun but not too heavy. Just a heads up: crowds are sometimes a thing here, so expect some company.

Sunday the 16th drops off with cross-shore wind and a smaller 5ft swell. After that, the swell fades through the week with a lot of poor conditions and onshore wind. There’s a tiny window Monday morning August 24 when it goes glassy again with a weak 4ft ESE swell – a desperate option, but very small.

So to sum it up: your best bet by a long shot is Saturday August 15 morning. Clean conditions, good period swell, and just the right size. Friday morning August 14 is a backup for a glassy session, but much smaller.

Rusty

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