Vetchs Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.86° S 31.05° E

Vetchs Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 04 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Vetchs Reef sea temperature is
21.7° C
0.4° 

Vetchs Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NE swell with 682 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) 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 5.0m 11s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Tue 4th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Best Surf 5AM (Tue 4th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Most Powerful11PM (Sun 9th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G'day, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you—this outlook for Vetchs Reef is a real mixed bag, and honestly, it's pretty heartbreaking for a spot like this. We're looking at a 16-day window, but don't get your hopes up too early. This reef rarely breaks, and when it does, it's for the advanced crew only. The water temp is about average for the time of year, which is fine, but the swell just isn't cooperating for most of the run.

The first few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 4th kicks off with some chest-high 5ft swell from the ESE, but it's messy with a cross-onshore wind, and the combined energy is moderate at 520. It's a no-go. Wednesday the 5th morning is the only real standout in the first week. The wind goes glassy, and the swell drops to 3ft from the East, with a clean 10-second period. The energy is moderate (279), and with that glassy surface, it's going to be clean and lined up for the few who know this break. That's your best window for the whole period, but be warned—crowds are possible here, and it's a break that doesn't fire often, so if you see it, you get in.

After that Wednesday morning, it turns to rubbish. From Thursday through to the end of the second week, we're looking at tiny, choppy junk, mostly with cross-onshore winds. There's a brief window on Sunday the 9th afternoon where the swell picks up to 6ft from the ENE, but the period is short at 8 seconds, and it's still a cross-off wind. The energy is moderate (393), but it's not inspiring. Then from the 10th right through to the 14th, it's flat and clean but tiny—so small you'd be wasting your time.

Now, on Saturday the 15th, we see a big spike in swell from the SE, hitting 8ft in the morning. The energy is very strong (1369), but the wind is cross-onshore and the period is a clean 10 seconds. That's a solid, powerful groundswell, but it's going to be a beast at this reef. For advanced surfers, it could be a proper session, but the wind is going to chop it up. It's not the clean, glassy perfection of that Wednesday morning. After that, it stays messy and windy right through to the 19th, with a 10ft day on the 18th but with a short 8-second period and fresh cross-onshore winds—that's more of a survival mission than a fun surf.

So, if you're keen, your only real shot is Wednesday the 5th morning. That's the one. It's a rare, clean moment at a rare break. The rest is either flat, blown out, or too much of a handful. This stretch looks more interesting for a kite session than a paddle session on most of the bigger days. Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts—things can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun night).

Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
2
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
ESE
10
1.5
ESE
10
1
ESE
10
1
ESE
10
1
E
10
0.9
ESE
10
0.8
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.8
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.8
E
10
1.3
ENE
6
1.1
ENE
9
1.5
ENE
9
1.6
ENE
9
0.9
ENE
9
0.8
E
10
0.7
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
520
455
192
197
184
154
120
122
109
83
83
83
85
121
118
216
328
363
138
115
92
Wind (km/h)
10
NE
15
NE
10
N
5
E
10
NE
10
NNW
10
NE
25
S
10
SW
15
NE
10
E
15
SSW
10
ENE
25
NE
20
NNE
15
NE
30
SSW
40
SSW
35
WSW
60
SSW
50
SSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:10PM1.78m
7:20AM1.60m
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
Low Tide
12:50PM0.37m
1:21AM0.53m
1:29PM0.50m
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
heavy rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
 mm
11
5
Temp °C
20
20
19
20
21
21
27
22
19
20
21
20
20
21
19
25
25
20
16
16
16
Feels °C
19
18
19
19
20
19
23
19
18
19
20
21
20
19
17
22
24
16
8
4
5
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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