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

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 am Thursday 14 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
23.9° 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 Thursday (May 14) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 2.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Monday (May 18) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Thu 14th May)6ft (1.8m) 13s
Best Surf 5PM (Thu 14th May)6ft (1.8m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 16th May)7ft (2.2m) 15s

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

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
1
3
1
0
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
S
13
1.8
SSE
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
1.5
S
16
1.7
S
15
1.6
S
14
1.4
S
14
1.3
S
13
1.1
S
12
1
S
12
0.8
S
13
0.7
S
12
0.7
S
12
0.6
S
11
0.6
S
11
0.8
E
9
0.9
E
8
0.8
ESE
9
0.9
E
9
1.7
SSE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1376
1109
472
333
1129
1258
1026
700
572
350
285
215
144
137
91
91
99
108
110
133
432
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
10
NNE
15
N
20
NNE
5
NNE
25
SW
20
S
15
SSE
0
NW
10
NNE
25
NE
20
N
20
NNE
25
NE
10
N
5
SSW
5
S
10
SW
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
S
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
2:05PM1.69m
2:23AM1.93m
2:44PM1.80m
3:03AM2.01m
3:24PM1.88m
3:43AM2.04m
4:03PM1.91m
4:23AM2.00m
4:44PM1.89m
5:04AM1.91m
5:27PM1.82m
5:46AM1.78m
6:15PM1.72m
Low Tide
8:05PM0.21m
8:38AM0.13m
8:46PM0.10m
9:16AM0.05m
9:27PM0.03m
9:55AM0.01m
10:08PM0.02m
10:34AM0.04m
10:50PM0.08m
11:15AM0.10m
11:34PM0.19m
11:58AM0.21m
00:22AM0.35m
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:26
6:26
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:06
5:06
3
2
1
1
2
5
1
3
2
11
Temp °C
20
20
20
23
26
21
22
22
22
22
24
21
23
25
22
22
22
21
21
21
19
20
21
20
22
25
20
20
20
23
22
22
20
22
23
21
24
22
23
19
19
18
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
S
13
1.8
SSE
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
1.5
S
16
1.7
S
15
1.6
S
14
1.4
S
14
1.3
S
13
1.1
S
12
1
S
12
0.8
S
13
0.7
S
12
0.7
S
12
0.9
E
7
0.8
E
8
0.8
E
9
0.9
E
8
0.8
ESE
9
0.9
E
9
1
E
9
Energy kJ
1376
1109
472
333
1129
1258
1026
700
572
350
285
215
144
137
70
86
99
108
110
133
154
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
17
0.2
E
8
0.7
E
5
0.5
S
16
0.8
ENE
6
0.6
E
6
0.5
E
7
0.5
E
7
0.5
E
7
0.5
E
7
0.2
S
15
0.6
SSE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.3
SSE
15
0.6
S
11
0.6
S
11
0.5
S
11
0.4
SSE
13
0.4
SSE
12
0.8
S
9
0.4
SSE
12
Energy kJ
143
5
25
121
45
29
24
23
23
27
17
31
16
42
91
91
59
69
61
101
53
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
7
0.2
S
16
1
ENE
6
0.3
SE
5
0.2
SSW
15
0.4
E
7
0.3
SSE
15
0.1
SW
13
0.3
SSE
13
0.2
SSE
15
0.4
SE
14
0.4
SSE
10
0.1
S
19
0.6
SSE
12
0.2
S
20
Energy kJ
4
21
64
3
21
17
43
7
35
23
54
33
7
96
30
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
6
0.3
N
3
0.9
ENE
5
1.3
SSW
5
1.3
S
6
0.9
SSE
6
0.9
ENE
4
0.9
NE
4
0.9
ENE
6
1.2
ENE
7
0.7
NNE
4
0.7
SSW
3
1.4
SSW
5
1.2
S
6
1.7
SSE
8
Energy kJ
2
1
39
77
126
59
28
28
59
131
18
10
94
108
432
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
2
3
4
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
3
3
Distance (km)
98
0
0
36
0
152
155
1
0
0
630
50
50
116
0
0
1
0
1
155
123
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
7
5
5
5
4
7
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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