
Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay South Pier surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with 1,597 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Richards Bay South Pier this week:
The surf forecast for Richards Bay South Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Richards Bay South Pier in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay South Pier over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sat night, strong winds from the NNE by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Tue afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Thu afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 18 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
210 | 189 | 194 | 307 | 251 | 222 | 804 | 610 | 588 | 882 | 546 | 504 | 625 | 426 | 394 | 1060 | 1489 | 949 | 725 | 605 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:30PM2.11m | 4:40AM1.99m | 4:57PM2.07m | 5:07AM1.93m | 5:23PM1.97m | 5:32AM1.83m | 5:47PM1.83m | 5:57AM1.70m | 6:11PM1.67m | 6:22AM1.54m | 6:35PM1.49m | 6:47AM1.37m | 7:01PM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:36PM-0.01m | 10:44AM-0.06m | 11:03PM0.03m | 11:11AM0.02m | 11:29PM0.12m | 11:37AM0.13m | 11:54PM0.24m | 12:03PM0.28m | 00:19AM0.38m | 12:28PM0.45m | 00:45AM0.55m | 12:54PM0.63m | 1:18AM0.73m | |||||||
— | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | |
5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 49 |
Temp °C | 24 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | E 9 | SSE 8 | S 18 | S 16 | ESE 8 | S 15 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | S 18 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 9 |
26 | 189 | 58 | 307 | 251 | 109 | 109 | 610 | 588 | 539 | 546 | 504 | 24 | 426 | 394 | 284 | 151 | 108 | 103 | 469 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SSE 8 | S 19 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 15 | S 9 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | — | NE 7 | E 9 | E 9 |
6 | 73 | 192 | 42 | 35 | 110 | 7 | 62 | 28 | 25 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 50 | 73 | 16 | — | 2 | 108 | 80 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | S 19 | S 16 | SSW 14 | S 16 | NE 6 | — | — | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
14 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | — | — | 223 | 127 | 25 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | NE 5 | E 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | N 5 | — | ENE 9 | — | — | E 10 | — | SSW 3 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
210 | 49 | 194 | 214 | 240 | 222 | 804 | 53 | — | 882 | — | — | 625 | — | 6 | 1060 | 1489 | 949 | 725 | 605 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1006 | 49 | 155 | 155 | 1012 | 836 | 627 | 254 | 75 | 155 | 0 | 558 | 1006 | 2 | 715 | 1055 | 121 | 75 | 115 | 90 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Richards Bay South Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Richards Bay South Pier 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 South Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Richards Bay South Pier 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 South Pier) 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 South Pier 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.










