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

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 am Monday 11 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
23.7° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

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 Monday (May 11) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 2.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Richards Bay (Inside) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 14) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 8s period and expected on Monday (May 11) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Mon 11th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf11AM (Mon 11th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 2AM (Thu 14th May)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue night, fresh winds from the S by Wed night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
11
Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
0
2
0
1
3
0
0
!
3
2
3
3
2
4
2
1
2
2
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SSW
10
1.7
S
11
1.1
S
12
0.6
S
14
1.3
SSW
17
1.2
S
14
1.2
S
14
1.2
S
13
3
S
16
2.1
S
13
1.8
S
12
1.5
S
12
1.9
S
16
2.1
S
16
1.9
S
14
1.5
S
14
1.5
S
13
1.1
S
13
1.2
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.9
SSE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1635
639
350
144
1033
602
573
480
4121
1510
1005
625
1840
2104
1468
804
757
377
418
347
205
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
20
ENE
10
NW
10
SSW
15
E
10
WSW
10
SSW
15
SSE
20
S
5
SE
5
SSE
5
W
10
NE
25
NE
10
N
15
SW
10
SSW
10
W
10
NNE
20
ENE
5
NW
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
High Tide
11:26AM1.28m
00:09AM1.46m
12:33PM1.41m
1:00AM1.63m
1:23PM1.55m
1:43AM1.80m
2:05PM1.69m
2:23AM1.93m
2:44PM1.80m
3:03AM2.01m
3:24PM1.88m
3:43AM2.04m
4:03PM1.91m
4:23AM2.00m
Low Tide
5:36PM0.63m
6:28AM0.59m
6:36PM0.49m
7:17AM0.42m
7:23PM0.34m
7:59AM0.26m
8:05PM0.21m
8:38AM0.13m
8:46PM0.10m
9:16AM0.05m
9:27PM0.03m
9:55AM0.01m
10:08PM0.02m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
6:26
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:10
5:09
5:08
5:08
5:07
5:07
5:07
3
2
2
1
4
2
2
3
1
Temp °C
23
23
21
25
27
22
25
26
23
20
20
20
21
24
22
22
23
21
22
24
22
18
19
17
22
25
20
23
24
20
20
21
22
21
23
22
22
22
23
23
23
23
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
S
10
1.7
S
11
1.1
S
12
0.6
S
14
1.3
SSW
17
1.2
S
14
1.2
S
14
1.2
S
13
3
S
16
2.1
S
13
1.8
S
12
1.5
S
12
1.9
S
16
2.1
S
16
1.9
S
14
1.5
S
14
1.5
S
13
1.1
S
13
1.2
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.9
SSE
11
Energy kJ
755
639
350
144
1033
602
573
480
4121
1510
1005
625
1840
2104
1468
804
757
377
418
347
205
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
ENE
8
0.4
SE
12
0.8
ENE
7
0.5
ENE
7
0.3
SE
12
0.6
S
18
0.3
ENE
8
0.2
E
8
0.3
ENE
8
0.3
ENE
8
0.2
E
8
0.5
S
16
0.3
ENE
6
0.7
E
6
0.6
E
6
0.6
E
7
0.6
E
7
0.6
E
8
0.6
E
8
0.6
SSE
14
Energy kJ
49
40
50
26
22
232
13
5
12
13
5
122
7
34
27
39
40
44
45
158
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
11
0.3
NE
8
0.2
SSE
12
0.5
ENE
5
0.2
E
8
0.2
ENE
5
0.3
ENE
8
0.2
E
8
0.2
SSW
15
0.4
SSE
15
0.6
E
8
Energy kJ
2
11
14
12
5
3
11
5
21
71
45
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SSW
10
0.9
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
4
0.3
SSE
2
0.5
ENE
6
0.7
SSW
4
0.9
SSE
6
Energy kJ
1635
104
14
1
23
14
56
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
1
3
3
2
3
5
4
3
3
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
141
435
0
0
153
0
0
513
375
76
76
0
128
156
0
0
0
0
0
156
0
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
3
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
5
6
6
4
4
5
9
4
5
6
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
9
9
8
9
5
6
5
5
7
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
4
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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