Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Inside) surf forecast from 16 Oct 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 20 Oct, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 19 Oct, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, S swell with 3,140 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 20 Oct, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period with S 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 (Oct 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Richards Bay (Inside) in the next 16 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Oct 19) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Oct 21) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 20th Oct) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 20th Oct) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 19th Oct) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Fri afternoon, light winds from the E by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 16 | Saturday 17 | Sunday 18 | Monday 19 | Tuesday 20 | Wednesday 21 | Thursday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 13 | S 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 174 | 107 | 59 | 124 | 225 | 101 | 104 | 162 | 90 | 985 | 2695 | 1326 | 720 | 335 | 192 | 90 | 71 | 110 | 361 | 187 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:07PM1.50m | 6:26AM1.39m | 6:37PM1.35m | 7:09AM1.23m | 7:27PM1.19m | 9:23AM1.11m | 10:51PM1.12m | 12:17PM1.23m | 00:34AM1.26m | 1:04PM1.42m | 1:17AM1.43m | 1:37PM1.61m | 1:50AM1.59m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:20AM0.51m | 12:32PM0.63m | 00:57AM0.67m | 1:17PM0.80m | 2:16AM0.82m | 4:03PM0.92m | 5:31AM0.81m | 6:31PM0.79m | 6:42AM0.65m | 7:15PM0.60m | 7:20AM0.48m | 7:47PM0.42m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — |
 | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 32 | 25 | 34 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 31 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 29 | 22 | 31 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | E 7 | E 9 | S 7 | S 7 | E 9 | S 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | ENE 6 | E 9 | S 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 174 | 107 | 59 | 124 | 104 | 91 | 72 | 162 | 24 | 228 | 56 | 23 | 720 | 335 | 192 | 90 | 55 | 74 | 361 | 187 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 9 | — | NE 7 | SSW 13 | E 9 | E 9 | S 6 | S 13 | — | NE 8 | NE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | E 8 | SE 10 |
| kJ | — | 42 | — | 73 | 64 | 101 | 101 | 28 | 90 | — | 20 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 13 | 71 | 61 | 68 | 44 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 13 | NE 6 | SSW 15 | S 14 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | E 9 | NE 8 | NE 7 | — | SSE 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSE 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 114 | 9 | 45 | 104 | 71 | — | — | — | 38 | 11 | 2 | — | 14 | 49 | 110 | 59 | 21 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | — | NE 6 | ENE 9 | S 7 | S 11 | S 11 | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 6 | — | SW 3 | S 4 | SSE 5 |
| kJ | 292 | 168 | 198 | 68 | 225 | — | — | 1 | 237 | 985 | 2695 | 1326 | — | — | 29 | 279 | — | 4 | 12 | 58 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 156 | 116 | 626 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 156 | 36 | 1 | 1013 | 207 | 439 | 839 | 0 | 559 | 488 | 36 | 391 | 391 | 0 |
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.
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