Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Thursday, 10 September and Friday, 11 September – Forget it. Tiny swell, messy winds, and the conditions are just flat-out poor. The combined wave energy is barely registering (36 to 389). Not a wave worth paddling for. The water temp is sitting at 21°C, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – that anomaly of -1°C is notable.

Saturday, 12 September – Still no good. Swell bumps up a touch to 0.8m–1.3m from the east, but the wind is cross or cross-on, making for a choppy mess. Energy is moderate (147–319) but it’s not clean.

Sunday, 13 September and Monday, 14 September – Weird energy here. The swell is small (0.4m–0.7m) but from the south with a very long period of 18–20 seconds, giving us moderate combined energy (116–351). But the wind is fresh and cross, or cross-off. That long period groundswell might make for cleaner lines if it wasn’t so small. Still, no surf call.

Tuesday, 15 September – Morning – First real standout. There’s a pulse of 2.0m from the east, period 9 seconds, and a clean cross-off wind from the north. Combined energy hits 713 (moderate-strong range). This is the best on offer in the whole forecast. The wind is clean and the swell size is rideable for intermediates. It’s a sandbar break (Richards Bay Inside) that is consistent and fairly exposed to south swell, but this east swell works too. Crowds can pop up here sometimes. Still, the conditions are clean and it’s your best chance. The afternoon turns cross-shore and messy – don’t sleep in, surf the morning.

Wednesday, 16 September – More size, 1.6m from the east, period 10 seconds, but the wind is onshore from the SE in the morning. Combined energy is strong (540). It’s marginal at best. Afternoon wind swings cross from the SSW, but the surf quality is still poor.

Thursday, 17 September through Friday, 18 September – Big swell rolls in, but with it comes heavy onshore and cross-on winds. 3.5m from the south and SSE, with very strong wave energy (2,680–3,257). This is expert-only territory, and the wind is wrecking it. This setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – lumpy, messy, and big.

Saturday, 19 September – Swell drops to 2.4m from the SE, period 11 seconds, but still cross-on wind and light rain. Energy is still strong (1,081–1,491). Not clean enough to recommend.

Sunday, 20 September through Wednesday, 23 September – A mix of cross and cross-on winds, with swell ranging 1.0m to 2.5m. Some moderate-strong energy, but the conditions stay poor or marginal. Nothing you’d drive for.

Thursday, 24 September – Morning – Another small standout. 1.9m from the east, period 9 seconds, with a gentle cross breeze from the NE. Combined energy is 973 (strong). The wind is light and the surf is marginal, not perfect, but it’s the second-best window in the outlook. Afternoon drops right off with a 0.8m south swell.

Friday, 25 September – 2.4m from the south, period 8 seconds, light cross-on wind. Marginal, but the energy is strong (837). Not a total write-off, but it’s not clean.

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