Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, E swell with 545 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with ESE 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s. 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 1.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks at Richards Bay (Inside). This spot is fairly open to a south swell, and we’ve got waves showing up, but you’ll need to time it right.
We kick off with a glassy Friday morning, 14 August. Water temp is 71°F, which is average for the time of year. The swell is 5 ft from the ESE, period at 8 seconds – so a shorter period wind swell – but with no wind it’s going to be super clean. The combined energy is moderate (488). This is a fine session for intermediates. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you won’t be alone, but it won’t be a zoo.
Friday afternoon the wind turns onshore and the quality drops, so get out there in the morning.
Saturday 15 August morning looks good. We’ve got 5 ft ESE swell, period stretching to 10 seconds, and a cross-offshore NNE breeze at 9 mph. Clean lines, moderate energy (391). Another solid window for intermediate surfers, but at 5 ft, it’s pushing the limit for beginners.
Sunday 16 August morning is the first real standout of the forecast. Swell is 5 ft from the east, period now 11 seconds, with a clean cross-offshore wind again. Combined energy is moderate (455), but that longer period gives the waves more push and shape. For a sandbar, this is proper fun. Crowds are possible but not guaranteed. This is the pick of the first week.
Monday 17 August morning is still surfable with clean conditions and 5 ft E swell, but the wind is stronger (12 mph) and energy dips (357). It’s a marginal call – could be worth a look if the tide is right.
From Monday afternoon through to Friday 22 August, it’s mostly a bust. Winds get messy, swell drops to 2-4 ft, and conditions are poor. There’s a brief window Tuesday 18 August morning – glassy, but the swell is small at 4 ft with 9 seconds and weak energy (215). It’s surfable, but pretty ordinary.
Then Sunday 23 August brings a serious change. A solid S swell arrives, 7 ft in the morning building to 8 ft by afternoon, period at 14 seconds. Combined energy jumps into the strong range (1846 then 2758). This is real groundswell. But the wind is cross-onshore at 12 mph, making it choppy. Experts only – this will be a fight.
Monday 24 August morning is the big-wave standout. We’ve got 8 ft S swell with a very long period of 15 seconds, and combined energy of 3173 – that’s a lot of power. The wind turns glassy, light offshore from the SSE. At Richards Bay Inside, this will be big, powerful, and clean. Experts only. This is the best session in the whole 16-day run, but it’s more than a week out, so stay tuned – forecasts change.
Monday afternoon the wind swings onshore again, and it gets messy.
From Tuesday 25 August onward, the swell drops right off. There are some clean mornings, like 28 August morning with tiny 1 ft SSW swell, but the energy is weak (75) and not worth paddling out.
So, the first standout is Sunday 16 August morning, and the second is Monday 24 August morning for the experts. There’s a dry spell from the 18th evening through the 22nd – about four days of flat or poor conditions.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 5 | SSW 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
277 | 172 | 458 | 375 | 348 | 505 | 449 | 392 | 400 | 362 | 470 | 274 | 189 | 143 | 116 | 86 | 84 | 209 | 172 | 225 | 77 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:59PM2.08m | 5:08AM1.96m | 5:30PM2.05m | 5:38AM1.90m | 6:00PM1.95m | 6:07AM1.80m | 6:29PM1.82m | 6:35AM1.66m | 6:56PM1.66m | 7:03AM1.50m | 7:25PM1.48m | 7:34AM1.33m | 8:00PM1.30m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:42AM-0.07m | 11:04PM0.04m | 11:14AM-0.05m | 11:36PM0.09m | 11:45AM0.02m | 00:06AM0.18m | 12:14PM0.14m | 00:35AM0.30m | 12:42PM0.29m | 1:04AM0.45m | 1:12PM0.47m | 1:35AM0.60m | 1:44PM0.65m | 2:19AM0.76m | |||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | S 12 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | S 13 | S 12 |
277 | 172 | 458 | 375 | 348 | 505 | 449 | 392 | 400 | 362 | 3 | 274 | 189 | 143 | 116 | 86 | 72 | 93 | 55 | 225 | 77 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | ESE 10 | S 9 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | S 16 | SSW 13 | S 18 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 8 | S 15 | S 15 | — | E 7 |
160 | 104 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 172 | 172 | — | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 9 | SW 14 | — | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 13 | SSE 10 | SW 16 | S 19 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 5 | SSW 15 | S 6 | — | S 16 |
51 | 56 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 8 | — | 6 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 25 | 22 | 2 | 209 | 3 | — | 42 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 2 | NNE 2 | — | ENE 4 | — | — | ENE 4 | NNE 4 | N 4 | E 10 | NNE 5 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | ENE 5 | S 7 | SSW 4 | E 8 | NE 5 |
— | 1 | 1 | — | 19 | — | — | 33 | 17 | 5 | 470 | 30 | — | 2 | — | — | 84 | 8 | 5 | 40 | 55 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 855 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 0 | 58 | 630 | 116 | 50 | 116 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 0 | 50 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 50 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











