
Surf Forecasts:
Salt Rock surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, S swell with 2,872 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Salt Rock this week:
The surf forecast for Salt Rock over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Salt Rock in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) 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 0.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salt Rock over the next 16 days.
Alright, let me break this down for ya.
We're looking at Salt Rock as the only spot on the table for this 16-day window. Honestly, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The first part of the period is a slow burner, but there are a couple of moments that could be worth a paddle. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
Right now, and for the next few days, it's a struggle. Wednesday the 8th is flat with poor conditions – a 1ft SSW swell, and that tiny energy reading of 72 tells you it's weak. Not worth getting wet. Thursday the 9th morning is still poor, with a slight bump to 2ft but choppy. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 6ft from the S, with a solid energy reading of 1121, but it's cross-onshore and messy, so it's a low-scoring, marginal call.
Friday the 10th is where things get interesting, but it's not for everyone. The morning has a solid 8ft S swell at a 15-second period. That's a proper groundswell, with strong energy (2476). But the wind is onshore, which will mess it up. For advanced surfers only at this size; beginners should stay well clear. The afternoon is similar but a touch bigger at 8ft. The conditions aren't great, but there's some serious power in the water.
Saturday the 11th drops back to the 5ft - 6ft range from the S, with a shorter 13-second period. Still marginal, with light cross and cross-onshore winds. Not the best.
Then we get a real standout. Sunday the 12th afternoon: glassy conditions. The swell is 4ft from the S, with moderate energy (511), but that glassy surface is a game-changer. It's not huge, but it'll be clean and workable for a fun session. This is the best bet in the first week.
The start of the next week, Monday the 13th, gets blown out by strong NE winds. Tuesday the 14th is similar, choppy and messy. Wednesday the 15th afternoon sees a moment of glass again, with a 6ft ESE swell and energy at 553. The period is 10 seconds, so it's a bit shorter period groundswell, but clean conditions make it a decent option.
Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th are a write-off. Friday the 17th has some solid size again, with a 8ft SSW swell and massive energy up to 3400, but it's cross-shore and rainy. That's a beast for experts only, and the conditions aren't doing it any favours.
The real standout of the entire period, and it's a long-range call so keep your fingers crossed, is Monday the 20th. The morning session has a 5ft S swell, but the period is a very long 18 seconds. The wind is cross-offshore, which will groom it beautifully, and the energy reading is a strong 1512. This will be a big, clean groundswell. For a reef setup like Salt Rock, this is prime. Expect some proper lines, but also long waits between sets. The crowds at Salt Rock can be `sometimes` an issue, so be prepared to share.
After that, the swell fades fast. Tuesday the 21st drops to 3ft, and by Wednesday and Thursday the 22nd and 23rd, we're back to tiny, weak, and poor conditions with less than 100 energy. The run from the 21st onward looks totally flat.
So, for best on offer: Sunday the 12th afternoon for the clean, glassy fun waves at 4ft and the Monday the 20th morning for the bigger, long-period groundswell with clean offshore winds. That's your two windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue night, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tue 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | ESE 8 | S 13 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 41 | 53 | 84 | 184 | 1113 | 971 | 2469 | 2612 | 1576 | 1121 | 851 | 339 | 496 | 403 | 173 | 353 | 345 | 426 | 497 | 653 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:37PM1.52m | 8:56AM1.32m | 9:44PM1.46m | 10:18AM1.25m | 11:09PM1.43m | 11:55AM1.27m | 00:36AM1.48m | 1:17PM1.37m | 1:46AM1.58m | 2:20PM1.52m | 2:42AM1.69m | 3:11PM1.66m | 3:30AM1.78m | 3:57PM1.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:56AM0.55m | 3:07PM0.50m | 4:12AM0.59m | 4:26PM0.56m | 5:42AM0.57m | 5:58PM0.54m | 7:03AM0.48m | 7:19PM0.45m | 8:06AM0.35m | 8:23PM0.33m | 8:58AM0.22m | 9:16PM0.21m | 9:42AM0.11m | ||||||||
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | |
5:08 | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 9 | ENE 6 | S 6 | S 14 | S 13 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSE 7 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 10 |
66 | 13 | 31 | 35 | 62 | 1113 | 971 | 2469 | 2612 | 1576 | 1121 | 851 | 180 | 496 | 403 | 135 | 353 | 326 | 426 | 497 | 653 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | SSW 13 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
32 | 31 | 53 | 84 | 184 | 40 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 339 | 75 | 77 | 173 | 198 | 345 | 209 | 146 | 100 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SE 9 | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 14 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | — | — |
42 | 41 | 17 | 13 | 35 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | — | — | 19 | 30 | 31 | 22 | 194 | 44 | 127 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | — | ENE 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 |
3 | — | 29 | 29 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 188 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 48 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 115 | 38 | 26 | 8 | 40 | 0 | 40 | 40 | 8 | 7 | 41 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 94 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Salt Rock Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Salt Rock provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Salt Rock can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Salt Rock 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 (Salt Rock) 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 Salt Rock 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.
Salt Rock is 4 km (2 miles) from the city of Ballitoville. If you plan a holiday in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballitoville. Ballitoville has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











