Surf Forecasts:
Trafalgar surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,799 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Trafalgar this week:
The surf forecast for Trafalgar over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Trafalgar in the next 16 days are 1.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Trafalgar over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed night, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the SW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 12 | SW 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 5 | SSW 15 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SSW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 11 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 4 | 422 | 211 | 168 | 160 | 120 | 109 | 123 | 459 | 305 | 1799 | 824 | 389 | 198 | 458 | 471 | 202 | 665 | 694 | 581 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross |
High Tide | 6:31PM1.62m | 6:37AM1.44m | 6:59PM1.48m | 7:05AM1.30m | 7:27PM1.32m | 7:35AM1.16m | 8:04PM1.16m | 8:23AM1.01m | 9:37PM1.02m | 12:15PM0.95m | 00:56AM1.07m | 1:48PM1.09m | 1:54AM1.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:13PM0.14m | 00:38AM0.29m | 12:41PM0.28m | 1:07AM0.42m | 1:10PM0.43m | 1:40AM0.56m | 1:43PM0.59m | 2:28AM0.69m | 2:39PM0.74m | 4:59AM0.78m | 6:13PM0.79m | 7:33AM0.67m | 7:45PM0.66m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 14 | S 8 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 584 | 520 | 422 | 211 | 168 | 160 | 120 | 105 | 103 | 48 | 22 | 1799 | 824 | 389 | 220 | 67 | 77 | 202 | 665 | 694 | 581 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SE 4 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | E 8 | E 8 | — | S 11 | — | NE 8 | SSW 13 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 120 | 26 | 123 | 70 | 40 | 21 | 12 | — | 198 | — | 15 | 62 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | S 9 | — | SW 18 | SW 9 | SSW 9 | — | — | — | NE 7 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | E 9 | NE 6 | E 6 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 5 | 2 | — | 12 | 3 | 15 | — | — | — | 19 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | — | S 9 | SSW 5 | S 4 | — | NE 3 | ENE 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 8 | S 8 | — | ENE 8 | NE 5 | NE 7 | SSW 7 | S 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 778 | — | 2 | 69 | 19 | — | 2 | 109 | 68 | 459 | 305 | — | 38 | 133 | 485 | 458 | 471 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 103 | 103 | 54 | 133 | 33 | 0 | 103 | 103 | 186 | 301 | 181 | 0 | 452 | 452 | 0 | 313 | 642 | 0 | 52 | 103 | 68 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Trafalgar surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Trafalgar Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Trafalgar provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Trafalgar can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Trafalgar 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 (Trafalgar) 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 Trafalgar 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.
Trafalgar is 10 km (6 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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