Surf Forecasts:
St Mikes surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with 1,955 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for St Mikes this week:
The surf forecast for St Mikes over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at St Mikes in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for St Mikes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Ah, mate. Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this stretch of coast is giving us next to nothing for the next fortnight. I’ve been through the charts and there’s just not a day worth wetting a wetsuit for.
We’ve got St Mikes (a reef break) as the only option in the 16-day window, and honestly, it’s a tough watch. The forecast period starts now, and the first few days? Forget it. We’re looking at nearly two weeks of poor surf conditions, with no real standout windows. The swell energy is mostly weak to moderate at best, with readings like 168 (weak) on the 19th and climbing to 684 (moderate) on the 20th afternoon, but that’s about as good as it gets – and it’s still not good.
The wind is almost always cross or cross-on, and often strong. On the 20th afternoon, we get a gentle breeze and a slight cross-chop, but the swell is from the SSW at 6 ft with a period of just 8 seconds – that’s short-period junk, not the kind of wave that’ll draw you in. The water temperature sits at 70°F with a normal anomaly, so nothing unusual there.
The rest of the month is a flatline of “poor surf conditions” with scores that never rise above a 1 out of 10. The swell energy plummets by the end of August, dipping to 58 (weak) on the 31st, and by early September, it’s down to single digits – 12 and 4. That’s barely a ripple.
If you’re desperate, the 24th morning might offer a marginal look with a 3 ft SSW swell at 13 seconds and a light breeze, but the wind is cross-on and the conditions are choppy. It’s not something I’d paddle out for.
Truth is, this is a blank run. St Mikes is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, but when the swell direction (SSW) doesn’t match its optimum (SW) and the wind is never offshore, you’re fighting a losing battle. For the experienced crew, the 20th afternoon might offer a short-period, 6 ft bump, but it’s messy and lumpy. For kite surfers? The 22nd afternoon brings a near gale cross-shore with 10 ft SSW swell – that’s more your game, if you’re into that.
Don’t hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d hang up the board and wait for a better window.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat night, light winds from the W by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SSW 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 14 | SSW 5 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | S 16 | SSW 18 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 857 | 336 | 191 | 1265 | 498 | 299 | 89 | 257 | 178 | 1500 | 1072 | 400 | 165 | 380 | 163 | 227 | 604 | 1093 | 912 |
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 | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:35AM1.16m | 8:04PM1.16m | 8:23AM1.01m | 9:37PM1.02m | 12:15PM0.95m | 00:56AM1.07m | 1:48PM1.09m | 1:54AM1.21m | 2:24PM1.25m | 2:29AM1.35m | 2:52PM1.41m | 2:57AM1.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:40AM0.56m | 1:43PM0.59m | 2:28AM0.69m | 2:39PM0.74m | 4:59AM0.78m | 6:13PM0.79m | 7:33AM0.67m | 7:45PM0.66m | 8:12AM0.52m | 8:23PM0.51m | 8:40AM0.37m | 8:53PM0.38m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | 5:34 | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 27 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 21 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | S 8 | SSW 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 9 | S 10 | S 8 | S 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | SSW 18 | S 16 |
| kJ | 134 | 48 | 191 | 1265 | 498 | 299 | 89 | 257 | 89 | 18 | 508 | 400 | 165 | 380 | 110 | 78 | 604 | 1093 | 912 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SSW 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 12 | ENE 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | E 9 | ENE 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 74 | 70 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 79 | — | — | — | 14 | 15 | 137 | 17 | 163 | 227 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 7 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | E 9 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | SE 11 | SE 12 |
| kJ | — | 25 | 48 | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 15 | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 8 | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | — | — | NNE 3 | ENE 4 | — | SSW 4 | S 4 | — |
| kJ | 857 | 336 | — | — | — | 3 | 31 | 97 | 178 | 1500 | 1072 | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | 11 | 19 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 157 | 183 | 45 | 0 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 769 | 188 | 140 | 45 | 0 | 96 | 31 | 0 | 140 | 193 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the St Mikes Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for St Mikes provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at St Mikes can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our St Mikes 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 (St Mikes) 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 St Mikes 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.
St Mikes is 17 km (11 miles) from Port Shepstone. If you plan a holiday in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Shepstone. Port Shepstone has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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