Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, ENE swell with 754 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period with E 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period. 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 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) 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 0.7m 16s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer.
To be honest, it's a quiet run ahead for Vetchs Reef. This is a spot that rarely breaks, and looking at this forecast, you can see why. For the next week or so, it's pretty much a no-go. We've got a persistent cross-onshore wind jamming up what little bump is out there. The water temp is sitting at 71°F which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
Friday the 14th kicks off with a weak 4ft swell from the ESE, but that onshore breeze has it choppy and messy. That theme carries right through the weekend and into Monday. By Monday the 17th, the swell does build a touch, hitting 6ft from the ENE with moderate wave energy (1043), but the wind is still cross-onshore, so it's marginal at best. It might be worth a paddle if you're desperate, but it won't be pretty.
The whole first week is a write-off with that wind direction. We're looking at a solid 10-day gap of real dud conditions. The surf drops right off from Tuesday the 18th onward, with tiny waves and poor quality. A few afternoons around the 20th and 22nd do go clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is just too small to bother with.
The only flicker of something bigger comes right at the tail end of the outlook. Tuesday the 25th sees a bit of a pulse, with swell hitting 7ft on Tuesday afternoon from the ENE, and energy climbing to 325. But again, that nasty cross-onshore wind will be making a mess of it. Wednesday the 26th actually sees the biggest swell of the period, peaking at 7ft on Wednesday afternoon with moderate-strong energy (485). The period is a short 7 seconds though, and the wind is still cross-onshore. For a reef break, that combo is not going to produce anything clean. This is a setup that might look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest. Because the wind is cross-onshore and the swell is not overly clean, this is strictly for experts only if they're determined, but don't expect much.
So, the honest truth? There are no standout days. Not a single morning or afternoon in this 16-day window gets a thumbs up. Vetchs Reef just isn't going to fire. Sometimes you get a blank run, and this is one of them. Keep an eye on the charts, it can turn around quick.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 235 | 288 | 452 | 432 | 575 | 573 | 507 | 657 | 530 | 612 | 612 | 307 | 198 | 155 | 117 | 86 | 84 | 197 | 80 | 60 | 87 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:59PM2.09m | 5:10AM1.98m | 5:30PM2.06m | 5:41AM1.91m | 6:00PM1.97m | 6:10AM1.80m | 6:29PM1.85m | 6:38AM1.67m | 6:58PM1.71m | 7:05AM1.52m | 7:27PM1.56m | 7:37AM1.37m | 8:04PM1.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:45AM0.09m | 11:08PM0.18m | 11:17AM0.12m | 11:39PM0.23m | 11:47AM0.20m | 00:10AM0.33m | 12:15PM0.32m | 00:39AM0.45m | 12:42PM0.46m | 1:08AM0.59m | 1:09PM0.61m | 1:41AM0.74m | 1:39PM0.78m | 2:29AM0.89m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 14 | E 11 | E 11 | S 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 235 | 288 | 452 | 432 | 15 | 573 | 507 | 10 | 530 | 431 | 431 | 307 | 198 | 155 | 117 | 86 | 84 | 71 | 80 | 187 | 82 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 9 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 12 | S 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | E 8 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 104 | 26 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 31 | 26 | 45 | 89 | 193 | 234 | 60 | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 15 | S 9 | S 14 | S 8 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 13 | SW 16 | S 10 | S 19 | SW 11 | S 3 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | ENE 5 | — | S 4 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 16 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 20 | — | 2 | 74 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 4 | NNE 4 | NNW 3 | E 10 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | E 11 | NNE 5 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 2 | — | — | ENE 3 | ENE 8 | SSW 3 | — | ENE 8 |
| kJ | — | 23 | 11 | 2 | 575 | 63 | 37 | 657 | 86 | 612 | 612 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 197 | 4 | — | 87 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 475 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 156 | 156 | 0 |
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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