
Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay South Pier surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, SSE swell with 3,053 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay South Pier over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 6 | S 14 | S 13 | E 9 | SSW 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 16 | SSW 7 | S 9 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
142 | 83 | 98 | 126 | 83 | 103 | 132 | 155 | 98 | 186 | 831 | 1736 | 2585 | 2239 | 1584 | 1275 | 937 | 711 | 863 | 924 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:47PM1.46m | 9:18AM1.27m | 10:29PM1.34m | 11:37AM1.22m | 00:37AM1.39m | 1:24PM1.37m | 1:54AM1.54m | 2:25PM1.59m | 2:45AM1.71m | 3:10PM1.79m | 3:26AM1.85m | 3:49PM1.95m | 4:02AM1.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:17PM0.51m | 3:12AM0.66m | 3:39PM0.66m | 5:10AM0.72m | 5:52PM0.68m | 7:05AM0.61m | 7:31PM0.54m | 8:10AM0.42m | 8:31PM0.36m | 8:55AM0.23m | 9:16PM0.21m | 9:34AM0.08m | 9:55PM0.10m | |||||||
— | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 23 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 12 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
92 | 83 | 83 | 81 | 83 | 87 | 68 | 64 | 64 | 81 | 59 | 43 | 58 | 87 | 156 | 106 | 798 | 711 | 863 | 924 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 6 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 16 | NE 6 | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 |
142 | 76 | 98 | 26 | 76 | 47 | 132 | 155 | 98 | 186 | 1 | — | — | — | 80 | 246 | 187 | 206 | 101 | 62 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | S 13 | S 6 | SSW 18 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 11 | S 11 | — | S 24 | S 22 |
13 | 5 | 4 | 126 | 10 | 103 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 47 | 111 | 89 | — | 11 | 82 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | — | NNE 3 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | S 9 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | — | — |
21 | 80 | 51 | 40 | — | 4 | 59 | 71 | 11 | 20 | 831 | 1736 | 2585 | 2239 | 1584 | 1275 | 937 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 57 | 2 | 75 | 2 | 0 | 155 | 371 | 115 | 0 | 2483 | 1012 | 650 | 557 | 153 | 371 | 206 | 97 | 200 | 1055 | 75 |
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 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.











