Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay (Outside) surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, SSE swell with 3,633 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Richards Bay (Outside) this week:
The surf forecast for Richards Bay (Outside) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Richards Bay (Outside) in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay (Outside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s take a look at Richards Bay for the next 16 days. First week is pretty average – messy winds and some big, lumpy days that aren’t really worth paddling out for. But there’s a nice run starting around August 3rd that might be your ticket.
Saturday the 25th is a write-off. Weak 0.9m swell from the SSW with a 15-second period, cross-shore wind and a slight chop. Forgettable.
Sunday the 26th: 1.4m SE swell in the morning, but the afternoon gets blown out by 25 km/h NE winds. Not great.
Monday the 27th drops right off to 0.5m. Clean morning but no size. By afternoon, it’s flat.
From Tuesday the 28th to Friday the 1st of August, the swell jumps up to 1.8m to 2.5m. At Richards Bay sandbar, anything over 2.5m is expert-only, and with mostly cross-onshore or cross-shore wind, it’s choppy. The 29th of July has a 2.5m SSE groundswell with a 17-second period – way too long for a beach break, so it’ll break straight and be messy. That 25 km/h cross-shore wind doesn’t help. Looks more like a kite day.
Saturday the 1st of August morning is glassy with a 2.5m SE swell at 11 seconds – clean but big. If you’re confident, it’s a good window. The water temp is pretty average for this time of year.
Sunday the 2nd: still big at 2.2m from the ESE at 12 seconds, but the morning has a cross-off NNE wind, so clean faces. Still a challenge.
The real standout is Monday the 3rd of August. Morning brings 1.7m ESE swell at 11 seconds, light cross-off NNE wind at 10 km/h. Clean, well-shaped waves, moderate energy. That’s the best of the whole run.
Tuesday the 4th morning is also good – 1.6m SE at 10 seconds, cross-off NNE wind at 15 km/h, clean. Another solid option.
After that, the swell fades fast. By the 6th it’s under 1m, and the 7th and 8th are tiny.
Looking way out to Sunday the 9th of August, there’s a big 3.5m S swell with 10-second period and a cross-off NNE wind – clean but huge. Experts only. That’s two weeks away though, so keep an eye on it.
Bottom line: Monday the 3rd of August morning is your best call – clean 1.7m ESE swell at Richards Bay. Tuesday the 4th is a close second. The rest of the first week is a bust, and the bigger days are too messy or too big for the setup.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Fri night, calm by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Mon night, min 14°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | SSW 15 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 17 | S 16 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 666 | 385 | 378 | 439 | 335 | 280 | 138 | 122 | 107 | 227 | 311 | 515 | 692 | 3633 | 3098 | 1094 | 942 | 943 | 1004 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 00:57AM1.28m | 1:41PM1.27m | 2:00AM1.39m | 2:30PM1.40m | 2:42AM1.52m | 3:06PM1.53m | 3:16AM1.64m | 3:38PM1.66m | 3:46AM1.74m | 4:07PM1.76m | 4:15AM1.82m | 4:36PM1.85m | 4:43AM1.87m | ||||||
Low Tide | 7:24AM0.69m | 7:41PM0.68m | 8:17AM0.56m | 8:30PM0.55m | 8:55AM0.43m | 9:06PM0.43m | 9:27AM0.31m | 9:38PM0.33m | 9:56AM0.20m | 10:08PM0.25m | 10:24AM0.12m | 10:38PM0.19m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 5:15 | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | NE 6 | E 8 | S 18 | ESE 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | E 10 | E 10 | S 13 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 666 | 205 | 378 | 439 | 335 | 263 | 129 | 55 | 31 | 50 | 304 | 33 | 240 | 2494 | 2054 | 68 | 73 | 121 | 1004 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 10 | SE 8 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 16 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 122 | 333 | 129 | 153 | 179 | 280 | 110 | 122 | 45 | 18 | 45 | 71 | 82 | 83 | 85 | 68 | 57 | 85 | 241 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | ESE 9 | S 18 | SSW 17 | S 17 | SSW 12 | S 14 | NE 5 | E 9 | — | S 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 459 | 385 | 228 | 32 | 6 | 111 | 138 | 50 | 107 | 7 | 60 | — | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 17 | S 16 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 54 | 60 | — | 227 | 311 | 515 | 692 | 3633 | 3098 | 1094 | 942 | 943 | 76 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 850 | 116 | 37 | 626 | 208 | 1057 | 484 | 1 | 0 | 155 | 155 | 155 | 1007 | 37 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Richards Bay (Outside) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Richards Bay (Outside) 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 (Outside) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Richards Bay (Outside) 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 (Outside)) 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 (Outside) 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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