
Surf Forecasts:
Richards Bay South Pier surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, S swell with 1,226 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period with S 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 Monday (Jul 13) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. 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 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Richards Bay South Pier over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed night, fresh winds from the SSW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sun 19 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
221 | 270 | 256 | 372 | 601 | 506 | 579 | 603 | 471 | 399 | 356 | 341 | 307 | 193 | 150 | 306 | 911 | 1089 | 799 | 432 | 437 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 2:43AM1.75m | 3:11PM1.73m | 3:31AM1.84m | 3:57PM1.86m | 4:14AM1.90m | 4:40PM1.95m | 4:54AM1.92m | 5:20PM1.98m | 5:31AM1.89m | 5:59PM1.95m | 6:08AM1.81m | 6:36PM1.87m | 6:43AM1.71m | 7:13PM1.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:24PM0.33m | 8:57AM0.24m | 9:16PM0.21m | 9:42AM0.12m | 10:03PM0.13m | 10:24AM0.04m | 10:45PM0.10m | 11:03AM0.01m | 11:26PM0.13m | 11:40AM0.02m | 00:04AM0.19m | 12:16PM0.10m | 00:42AM0.29m | 12:52PM0.21m | |||||||
— | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | |
5:09 | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 |
86 | 270 | 256 | 372 | 601 | 506 | 579 | 603 | 471 | 399 | 356 | 341 | 307 | 193 | 150 | 115 | 911 | 1089 | 799 | 432 | 437 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSW 10 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 |
221 | 166 | 121 | 87 | 117 | 33 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 17 | 6 | 33 | 92 | 31 | 39 | 113 | 113 | 83 | 86 | 60 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | S 15 | S 13 | SSW 11 | — | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | SE 10 | SSE 11 | S 12 | S 18 | SSW 15 | NE 5 | S 10 | S 16 | S 6 | — | — | SSE 15 | SW 15 |
51 | 4 | 14 | 202 | — | 30 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 45 | 6 | 2 | 306 | 18 | — | — | 196 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | — | — | ENE 4 | — | SW 3 | ENE 2 | NNW 3 | SW 9 | SSW 5 | S 6 | — | ENE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | 7 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 38 | 81 | 66 | — | 13 | 37 | 18 | 177 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 90 | 155 | 0 | 49 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 0 | 1 | 155 | 35 | 2 | 627 | 153 | 203 | 155 | 0 | 663 | 629 |
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.











