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

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Friday 08 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
24.1° 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 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 14) 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 2.3m 8s period and expected on Sunday (May 10) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 8th May)6ft (1.9m) 12s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 14th May)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 5AM (Thu 14th May)10ft (3.0m) 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

Mostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
1
1
!
3
1
2
1
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)
2.1
S
12
2.4
SSE
14
1.9
SSE
12
1.6
SSE
12
1.2
SSE
11
0.9
SSE
11
0.7
SSE
10
0.3
SE
14
1
S
12
1.9
S
11
1
S
13
0.6
S
15
0.8
SSW
15
1.2
S
13
1.3
S
15
1.4
S
15
3
S
14
2.2
S
13
1.7
S
12
1.2
S
12
1
S
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1146
2129
1155
743
390
191
112
33
271
898
340
163
288
498
730
836
3907
1682
883
397
394
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
15
N
15
WNW
15
ESE
15
N
30
N
25
NNE
20
WNW
10
ENE
30
NE
10
WNW
5
SW
15
ESE
5
WSW
20
SSW
15
S
15
S
10
SE
10
E
10
N
20
NNE
on
cross-off
off
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:33PM1.32m
7:51AM1.29m
9:03PM1.26m
9:37AM1.23m
10:55PM1.31m
11:26AM1.28m
00:09AM1.46m
12:33PM1.41m
1:00AM1.63m
1:23PM1.55m
1:43AM1.80m
2:05PM1.69m
2:23AM1.93m
Low Tide
1:41AM0.73m
2:24PM0.69m
3:20AM0.80m
4:07PM0.71m
5:16AM0.74m
5:36PM0.63m
6:28AM0.59m
6:36PM0.49m
7:17AM0.42m
7:23PM0.34m
7:59AM0.26m
8:05PM0.21m
8:38AM0.13m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:12
5:10
5:10
5:09
5:08
5:08
5:07
3
3
2
3
Temp °C
22
21
23
24
21
29
32
27
25
28
22
26
27
23
23
25
23
20
21
21
23
20
20
19
21
20
23
26
23
22
24
20
24
24
23
21
25
20
21
21
22
21
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
S
12
2.4
SSE
14
1.9
SSE
12
1.6
SSE
12
1.2
SSE
11
0.9
SSE
11
0.7
SSE
10
1
ENE
8
1.7
SE
7
1.9
S
11
1
S
13
0.6
S
15
0.8
SSW
15
1.2
S
13
1.3
S
15
1.4
S
15
3
S
14
2.2
S
13
1.7
S
12
1.2
S
12
1
S
14
Energy kJ
1146
2129
1155
743
390
191
112
119
261
898
340
163
288
498
730
836
3907
1682
883
397
394
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SE
16
0.6
ESE
9
0.5
E
8
0.5
E
8
0.5
NE
5
0.4
ESE
8
0.2
SSW
15
0.4
SSE
10
1
S
12
0.4
SE
12
1
ENE
6
0.6
E
6
0.2
E
8
0.5
ESE
4
0.3
ENE
6
0.3
E
8
0.3
ENE
8
0.2
E
7
0.5
SW
12
0.8
ENE
6
Energy kJ
587
62
37
34
13
20
21
33
271
40
68
27
5
9
8
12
11
4
74
51
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
E
8
0.5
E
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.2
S
16
0.1
SE
15
0.3
SE
14
0.6
ENE
8
0.1
E
10
0.3
SE
12
0.2
SSE
12
0.1
SE
12
0.3
E
8
0.3
E
8
0.1
NE
6
0.3
SW
12
Energy kJ
94
62
51
35
22
21
9
29
47
2
23
14
5
10
12
1
23
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
N
4
0.4
NE
4
0.9
NNE
5
1
NE
6
1.4
NE
7
0.4
NW
3
1.2
ENE
5
0.4
NNW
3
0.5
E
6
0.7
SSE
4
1
ENE
4
1.3
NE
5
1.5
NNE
6
Energy kJ
11
5
49
81
217
2
69
4
17
14
30
96
181
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
4
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
3
2
3
Distance (km)
156
0
0
156
36
372
116
0
55
372
0
1
156
0
1
1
155
116
156
0
156
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
1
1
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
4
2
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
9
5
8
5
4
4
6
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
9
4
4
9
5
9
9
5
9
8
6
9
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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