Richards Bay (Inside) surfForecast / KZN North / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Friday 01 May 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Richards Bay (Inside) sea temperature is
24.6° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

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 (May 01) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. 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 2.3m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 08) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 8s period and expected on Monday (May 04) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 1st May)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 7th May)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful11AM (Fri 8th May)7.5ft (2.3m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Wed afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon night, calm by Wed afternoon).

Fri
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
0
2
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
3
3
2
4
3
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
S
16
1.5
S
14
1.3
S
14
1.2
S
13
1.1
S
13
1.1
S
12
1
S
12
0.8
S
12
0.7
S
11
0.6
S
11
1.1
SSW
13
1.4
S
7
1.3
S
7
1.3
SSE
7
1.1
SE
7
1.1
SE
9
1.9
SSE
11
1.9
SE
10
1.5
SSE
15
1.8
SSE
15
2.3
S
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1433
919
649
499
401
353
290
169
116
86
434
178
148
153
136
211
784
769
936
1572
1923
Wind (km/h)
15
SSE
5
WSW
10
NE
15
E
10
N
10
NNE
25
ENE
25
NNE
10
N
15
NE
30
SW
20
SW
10
W
10
N
15
N
5
NW
10
W
10
WNW
15
SE
15
SW
10
SSW
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
3:40PM1.82m
3:51AM1.91m
4:07PM1.82m
4:18AM1.88m
4:34PM1.79m
4:44AM1.82m
5:01PM1.73m
5:12AM1.74m
5:30PM1.65m
5:40AM1.64m
6:02PM1.54m
6:12AM1.53m
6:40PM1.43m
6:52AM1.41m
Low Tide
9:41PM0.14m
10:00AM0.11m
10:08PM0.14m
10:26AM0.13m
10:36PM0.19m
10:54AM0.18m
11:04PM0.26m
11:22AM0.26m
11:33PM0.36m
11:53AM0.36m
00:05AM0.47m
12:28PM0.47m
00:44AM0.60m
1:14PM0.59m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:18
6:20
6:20
6:20
6:22
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:17
5:16
5:16
5:15
5:15
5:14
5:13
5:13
6
4
16
9
Temp °C
23
22
24
26
22
24
27
24
30
33
27
25
25
23
24
28
20
24
24
21
22
20
23
25
25
23
26
27
25
29
34
27
24
25
24
25
30
22
21
20
21
21
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
S
16
1.5
S
14
1.3
S
14
1.2
S
13
1.1
S
13
1.1
S
12
1
S
12
0.8
S
12
0.7
S
11
0.6
S
11
1
ENE
8
0.5
ENE
7
0.5
S
12
1.3
SSE
7
1.1
SE
7
1.1
SE
9
1.9
SSE
11
1.9
SE
10
1.7
ESE
9
1.8
SSE
15
2.3
S
14
Energy kJ
1433
919
649
499
401
353
290
169
116
86
113
31
73
153
136
211
784
769
460
1572
1923
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ENE
8
0.8
S
6
0.3
S
17
0.3
E
9
0.3
SSE
16
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.7
ENE
6
0.4
S
15
0.2
SSE
12
0.5
S
13
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
S
12
0.4
ENE
6
0.7
S
11
0.7
E
7
0.7
SSE
14
1.5
SSE
15
1.4
ESE
9
1.1
ESE
9
Energy kJ
24
49
51
14
51
13
13
27
68
15
82
19
45
14
123
43
207
936
313
180
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.1
S
15
0.3
E
8
0.1
SE
13
0.3
SSE
12
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
11
0.3
S
11
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
10
0.7
E
7
0.5
SSE
10
0.6
NE
7
0.3
NE
7
Energy kJ
14
15
15
14
25
4
11
7
29
28
28
29
23
2
2
49
58
32
7
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
S
6
0.4
ENE
3
0.7
ENE
3
0.7
NE
4
1.1
NE
6
1.3
ENE
7
1.1
SSW
13
1.4
S
7
1.3
S
7
0.5
E
6
0.8
SSW
4
2.2
SSW
11
Energy kJ
78
3
11
16
69
178
434
178
148
20
24
1152
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
3
4
4
4
Distance (km)
155
0
156
156
0
0
156
50
0
116
155
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
4
4
5
7
7
8
4
5
4
6
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
7
7
8
5
5
5
6
5
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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