Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break down the next couple of weeks at Richards Bay (Inside) (South Africa). I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the forecast is a grind. There’s a massive dry spell at the start with nothing worth paddling for. The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t pop up until Thursday morning, the 27th, which is a hell of a wait.

Most days are blown out by strong cross or onshore winds, or the swell is too small and weak to do anything with. We get a few clean mornings early on, like the 22nd and 23rd, but the wave height is barely ankle-deep. The combined energy on those days is weak, under 300, so you’re just bobbing around.

Here’s the one to chase: Thursday morning, August 27th. We’re looking at a 7ft swell from the south (S) with a long period of 17 seconds – that’s a clean, powerful groundswell. The combined energy hits a strong (3458). The wind is a clean cross-off from the NNE at 25 km/h, so the lineup should be smooth. This is a sandbar, and that long period can make it a bit straight, but with this size and glassy conditions, it’s the best we’ve got. It’s definitely in the expert-only zone, so leave the foamie at home. Keep in mind crowds are possible here.

There’s a secondary look on Friday morning, August 28th, with a 5ft S swell (16-second period) and those same clean cross-off winds. The energy is moderate at (1131). It’s a solid wave, but not quite as strong as Thursday.

The second week falls off a cliff. From the 29th onward, the swell shrinks fast, and by the 3rd of September we’re down to a 1ft S swell and a combined energy of just 87. You’d be better off staying home.

Water temp is a standard 71°, nothing unusual there. This is just a dry period for the area. Forecasts can change, but right now, that Thursday morning is your only real shot. Be ready.

Rusty.

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