
Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, E swell with 986 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s 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 2.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 12s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's cookin' at Vetchs Reef.
We got a good run of swell coming, but the quality is all over the place. The one to lock in is Wednesday morning on the 15th of July. That's the gem.
Tuesday the 14th is a total bust. There's swell, about 7ft to 7ft from the ESE and E, with a moderate wave energy (761 to 942), but the wind is a nasty cross-on, making it a choppy mess. Don't bother.
Then Wednesday the 15th morning, everything lines up. We got a clean 6ft swell from the East with a 10-second period, and the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That's the dream. The wave energy is moderate (716), and for a reef that rarely breaks, this is a special chance. The water temp is 71°, right on average for this time of year. The optimum offshore wind is from the West, but a glassy morning is even better for those clean, peeling faces. This spot is for advanced surfers only, and it rarely breaks, so if you know where it is, go get it. You might get some company, but a Wednesday morning should keep the crowds thin.
Thursday the 16th is a step down. Thursday morning has a 5ft swell from the East with an 11-second period and light cross wind – it's rideable but nothing to write home about. Wave energy is moderate (573). By the afternoon, the wind turns onshore, and that's game over.
Friday the 17th morning is a little bonus. The swell drops to 4ft from the East, but the wind goes glassy again. Wave energy is light (273). It'll be clean, fun little waves for the advanced crew, but not a standout.
From Saturday the 18th right through to the end of July, the surf fades away. We're looking at tiny waves, mostly under 3ft, with a lot of poor conditions and onshore or cross-onshore winds. There's a little bump on the 23rd of July morning with a 3ft swell from the South, but it's only a 6-second period – that's weak, short-period windswell. Not worth the drive.
Then on the 27th of July morning, we see a pulse of 5ft from the NE with a short 6-second period, but the wind is onshore. The wave energy jumps to moderate (235), but it's not going to be any good. The 28th of July morning has a bigger 8ft swell from the NE and strong wave energy (801), but again, it's all cross-on wind and choppy. That's expert-only size anyway, and the onshore wind will blow it out.
So, the call is simple: Wednesday the 15th of July morning at Vetchs Reef is your best shot for glassy, clean waves. Friday the 17th morning is a solid backup. The rest is mostly flat or foul.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 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 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 13 | E 9 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
761 | 942 | 900 | 716 | 774 | 736 | 573 | 400 | 327 | 273 | 225 | 177 | 140 | 149 | 116 | 147 | 118 | 90 | 88 | 15 | 169 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross |
High Tide | 4:01PM1.92m | 4:14AM1.92m | 4:43PM1.98m | 4:55AM1.93m | 5:23PM2.00m | 5:34AM1.89m | 6:01PM1.96m | 6:11AM1.82m | 6:38PM1.88m | 6:48AM1.71m | 7:14PM1.78m | 7:24AM1.59m | 7:52PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:45AM0.22m | 10:08PM0.29m | 10:27AM0.16m | 10:51PM0.26m | 11:06AM0.15m | 11:31PM0.27m | 11:44AM0.18m | 00:10AM0.32m | 12:21PM0.26m | 00:48AM0.41m | 12:56PM0.37m | 1:26AM0.52m | 1:31PM0.50m | 2:06AM0.65m | |||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 11 | SE 13 | SSE 12 | S 12 |
761 | 942 | 900 | 716 | 774 | 736 | 573 | 400 | 327 | 273 | 225 | 177 | 613 | 758 | 1218 | 833 | 710 | 415 | 88 | 98 | 1194 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 10 | SSW 5 | SSW 8 | S 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | SE 11 |
53 | 52 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 7 | 23 | 29 | 66 | 14 | 74 | 140 | 146 | 116 | 147 | 62 | 90 | 28 | 15 | 169 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 10 | — | S 12 | SE 11 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 14 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | — | E 10 | — | — | SW 14 | — | S 16 | E 9 | E 9 |
— | 17 | — | 3 | 5 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 7 | — | 149 | — | — | 8 | — | 5 | 15 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | SSW 9 | SSW 5 | — | — | NNE 3 | NE 5 | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 11 | — |
— | — | — | — | 3 | 13 | 17 | — | — | — | 26 | 17 | — | — | 6 | 40 | 118 | 173 | 1651 | 1873 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 154 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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.










