Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with 1,553 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk Richards Bay (Inside) in feet and miles per hour.
It starts off bleak with nothing solid until the 18th. Messy winds, weak wave heights, and “poor surf conditions” all through. Don't even wax your board for the first week.
Your one true standout is Tuesday, 15th September afternoon. The wind goes glassy calm – dead smooth – and the wave is 6 ft out of the east, with 9 seconds between peaks. Combined energy reads 627, meaning moderate push but not too heavy. It’ll be real clean waves for the intermediate surfer. Crowds might pop up but the break is consistent enough to share.
After that high, things degrade again until the morning of Saturday 19th when we get a 10 ft southeast swell with 9-second periods, but that’s too big for this sandbar. That’s expert-only territory and the cross-onshore gust at 18 mph will make it ugly for most.
You get a reprieve on Sunday 20th and Monday 21st, with 7 to 8 ft east-southeast swells and moderate cross-off breeze keeping the faces clean. The energy is moderate-to-strong (around 1200-800) and consistent enough for a good session. Expect some company there.
Late in the outlook, around the 27th and 28th, the swell drops to 5 ft but gets very long period – around 15-16 seconds – out of the south. That kind of groundswell might close out at this beach break, but cross-off winds will keep it rideable if you’re picky.
If you’ve got one day to go: make it Tuesday the 15th afternoon. That’s the magic window. The rest of it is waiting on cleaner stronger swells or gusty kite weather.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | E 8 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 189 | 192 | 307 | 251 | 371 | 239 | 537 | 588 | 601 | 600 | 504 | 494 | 377 | 400 | 333 | 1553 | 625 | 537 | 808 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:40AM1.99m | 4:57PM2.07m | 5:07AM1.93m | 5:23PM1.97m | 5:32AM1.83m | 5:47PM1.83m | 5:57AM1.70m | 6:11PM1.67m | 6:22AM1.54m | 6:35PM1.49m | 6:47AM1.37m | 7:01PM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:36PM-0.01m | 10:44AM-0.06m | 11:03PM0.03m | 11:11AM0.02m | 11:29PM0.12m | 11:37AM0.13m | 11:54PM0.24m | 12:03PM0.28m | 00:19AM0.38m | 12:28PM0.45m | 00:45AM0.55m | 12:54PM0.63m | 1:18AM0.73m | ||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  |  |  | | | |  | |  | | |  | |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — |
 | 5:42 | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 27 |
Temp °C | 21 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSE 8 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 189 | 58 | 307 | 251 | 110 | 109 | 537 | 588 | 601 | 600 | 504 | 494 | 377 | 400 | 333 | 157 | 108 | 537 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 19 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 10 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | — | — | SSW 12 | E 9 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 73 | 192 | 42 | 23 | 7 | 239 | 61 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 27 | 24 | — | — | 15 | 81 | 31 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | — | S 19 | S 16 | SSW 14 | S 16 | SSW 15 | — | — | SW 13 | S 16 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 22 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | — | — | 78 | 5 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | E 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 8 | ENE 8 | NNE 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | — | — | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 8 | — | SE 9 |
| kJ | 41 | 162 | 173 | 201 | 371 | 768 | 92 | 1039 | 958 | 1003 | — | — | 6 | 10 | 317 | 1553 | 625 | — | 808 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 50 | 156 | 156 | 849 | 709 | 626 | 372 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 484 | 0 | 1 | 484 | 155 | 76 | 626 | 626 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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