Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.81° S 32.10° E

Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Richards Bay (Inside) sea temperature is
21.4° C
0.2° 

Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, S swell with 3,234 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with E 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Tue 18th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Best Surf 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug)8ft (2.5m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, listen up. It’s Rusty here, and after looking at the charts for Richards Bay, I've got to be straight with ya: it’s a rough stretch ahead. There’s no surf on offer right now, and we're looking at four days of onshore slop and chop before anything even starts to look semi-decent. The wind is just going to be all over the place, and those waves are going to be messy.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday the 19th, but it's more of a tease. We are looking at small, 3ft waves from the ESE, but with that cross-offshore wind and clean conditions, it’s the first time you might even want to get wet. But don't get too excited, it's pretty weak stuff. That afternoon, the wind picks up and it’s back to square one. The 20th is a write-off, with the swell jumping up but the wind making it a washing machine.

Now, here’s where the real talking point is. Friday the 21st of August could be our standout. There's a proper groundswell arriving from the south, with a 14-second period and a solid 6ft. The energy is strong, and it's got some proper grunt behind it. The morning glass is clean with a cross-offshore breeze. This is where you want to be at Richards Bay (Inside). A long-period south swell like this is always a good bet for this sandbar. But it's the afternoon that kills it again, as the wind swings around and it all turns to junk.

After that, we have a few days of small, marginal waves and wind that won't make up its mind. The swell drops right off, but there's a pulse of longer-period energy moving through. By Saturday the 22nd, the morning is clean and cross-off but the swell is tiny. Then, a much bigger pulse of swell is coming our way for Sunday the 23rd. We’re talking 8ft swell from the south with a 14-second period, and it’s got some serious energy behind it. But the wind is the problem. It’s onshore and the surf is just going to be a messy, powerful beast. It’s more of a look-at-it-from-the-beach kind of day unless you’re a proper charger. The 24th is more of the same, still some solid energy and a clean window in the morning, but the size and the period are still on the edge of being unruly.

After that, we are looking at a drop-off. From the 25th all the way through to the 2nd of September, there is nothing that would get me excited. The swell is small, the periods are short, and the wind will occasionally have a clean window but the waves are just not going to have any power behind them to make it worthwhile. On the 29th, a strong S/SW wind and 8ft of swell will kick up a full-on mess. There’s a bit of a hump on the 30th with some lighter winds, but those are rain showers and a weak, short-period swell, so it’s still not classic.

So, bottom line, there are only two times I'd even think about paddling out. The first is the Friday morning 21st, and the most promising is that Sunday 23rd, but you'd have to be an expert to handle that power. Those are your only real chances, and even they are not perfect. The rest of the window is ordinary at best. Keep an eye on it, though, things can change. This is Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Wed morning, strong winds from the SSW by Wed night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 34°C on Sat morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Thu night, fresh winds from the NE by Fri afternoon).

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
1
0
!
2
2
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
E
9
1.1
E
9
1.6
SSW
7
0.9
ESE
9
0.9
ESE
8
1.2
E
8
0.6
S
14
2.5
S
8
1.9
S
8
0.8
S
16
1.7
S
14
1.2
S
13
0.8
S
12
0.6
S
12
1.3
SSW
4
3
S
10
2.5
S
12
2.5
S
14
2.4
S
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
287
203
219
123
118
195
150
966
470
322
1048
492
184
102
71
1874
1880
2557
2358
Wind (km/h)
20
NNE
30
SSW
20
SW
15
SW
5
NNE
30
NE
15
N
35
SSW
25
S
5
W
20
NE
30
NE
30
NNE
10
NNW
30
SSW
25
SSW
20
SW
15
SSE
5
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
on
glassy
High Tide
6:35AM1.66m
6:56PM1.66m
7:03AM1.50m
7:25PM1.48m
7:34AM1.33m
8:00PM1.30m
8:19AM1.16m
9:22PM1.14m
11:55AM1.07m
00:58AM1.18m
1:46PM1.22m
1:57AM1.34m
Low Tide
00:35AM0.30m
12:42PM0.29m
1:04AM0.45m
1:12PM0.47m
1:35AM0.60m
1:44PM0.65m
2:19AM0.76m
2:39PM0.82m
4:37AM0.88m
6:12PM0.88m
7:29AM0.77m
7:46PM0.73m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:20
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:31
 mm
1
Temp °C
19
20
19
19
21
25
21
20
20
20
21
23
20
34
31
21
20
20
20
Feels °C
17
18
16
17
21
22
18
15
16
18
18
19
17
31
26
18
18
17
20
  • 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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