Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 2,345 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Vetchs Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Vetchs Reef in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) 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 4.0m 10s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.
Well, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch of 16 days is a real mixed bag, and honestly, for the most part, it’s pretty grim. We’re looking at a long, dry spell of small, messy, or onshore junk before a couple of brief windows of something worthwhile. It’s a test of patience.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn't show up until Tuesday the 11th of August. Up until then, it’s a whole lot of nothing. From Wednesday the 5th through Monday the 10th, the surf is small and blown out, with a constant cross-on breeze messing up what little energy there is. You’d be wasting your time.
Then, on Tuesday the 11th, things get interesting but dangerous. The afternoon sees a big jump in size – a solid 12 ft from the SE, but with a short, weak period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 2244, meaning there’s a lot of power in the water. This is strictly for experts only. The wind is a fresh cross-shore from the SSE, making it lumpy, and the forecast says it’s marginal. This is not a beginner’s day.
The real standout, and the only one I’d call a winner, is Saturday the 15th of August. Specifically, the afternoon session. The swell drops to a more manageable 5 ft from the ESE, with a period of 9 seconds. But the magic is the wind: it goes glassy. I mean, dead flat, offshore from the E at 5 mph. The water temp is about average for the time of year, around 71°. For a reef break that rarely breaks, this is a rare gift. The surf will be clean, lined up, and inviting. The crowds are possible, but for a spot that’s this inconsistent, it’s worth the gamble. The energy is moderate at 409, but the quality will be there. This is your best bet.
After that, Sunday the 16th has a small, clean 4 ft from the E with a light cross-off wind, but it’s nothing special. The rest of the second week fades back into small, choppy, cross-on junk. The 18th and 19th see the swell drop to knee-high, with no energy.
So, bottom line: if you’re a local, you’re waiting for that Saturday afternoon. The big pulse on the 11th is only for the brave. Everything else is a write-off.
Stay patient, and keep your eyes on that glassy window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sun morning, near gales from the SW by Mon morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 10 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 184 | 154 | 120 | 121 | 85 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 85 | 138 | 188 | 154 | 110 | 85 | 64 | 62 | 87 | 111 | 2244 | 448 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:53PM1.66m | 8:10AM1.47m | 8:52PM1.51m | 9:31AM1.34m | 10:33PM1.41m | 11:49AM1.33m | 00:34AM1.45m | 1:29PM1.48m | 1:51AM1.59m | 2:27PM1.68m | 2:43AM1.75m | 3:12PM1.86m | 3:25AM1.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:09AM0.65m | 2:21PM0.65m | 3:21AM0.77m | 3:49PM0.80m | 5:21AM0.80m | 6:06PM0.81m | 7:07AM0.68m | 7:39PM0.67m | 8:10AM0.50m | 8:36PM0.50m | 8:56AM0.33m | 9:21PM0.35m | ||||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 11 | 11 |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | S 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 16 | ENE 6 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 14 | E 11 |
| kJ | 184 | 154 | 120 | 121 | 85 | 47 | 83 | 83 | 85 | 138 | 121 | 154 | 110 | 85 | 64 | 62 | 87 | 111 | 276 | 448 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | E 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSW 14 | S 5 | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 17 | 33 | 26 | 162 | 80 | 83 | 135 | 83 | 12 | 13 | 118 | 18 | 147 | 4 | — | — | — | 73 | 70 | 250 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 14 | S 6 | SSE 5 | SSW 17 | SSW 11 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | — | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 5 | 34 | 119 | 15 | 9 | 104 | 23 | 9 | 99 | 24 | 46 | 73 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 82 | — | 167 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 5 | S 6 | — | — | — | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | — | S 3 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 30 | 90 | 64 | 71 | 86 | — | — | — | 25 | 138 | 188 | — | 8 | 395 | 3221 | 2650 | 2375 | 2552 | 2244 | 1329 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 213 | 0 | 1 | 156 | 2 | 2 | 218 | 0 | 2 | 432 | 1218 | 1424 | 2611 | 243 | 907 | 780 | 907 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Vetchs Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Vetchs Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Vetchs Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Vetchs Reef 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 (Vetchs Reef) 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 Vetchs Reef 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Vetchs Reef, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, consider staying in Durban which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Glenwood which is 7 km (4 miles) away, Kwamashu, Umhlanga and Mount Edgecombe.
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