Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with 935 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Vetchs Reef this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Vetchs Reef in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) 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 3.5m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’. For Vetchs Reef, it’s a tough stretch ahead. This is an advanced reef that almost never breaks, and the next two weeks aren’t going to change that reputation.
Starting Friday the 21st of August, it’s flat as a pancake – 0.4m from the east, 8-second period, cross-onshore breeze. Choppy and weak, combined energy at 21. Saturday the 22nd bumps up to 1.0m but with a 4-second period from the NE and moderate cross-onshore winds. Saturday afternoon has clean-offshore wind, but it’s 50 km/h – not paddle-friendly. Still only 1.0m with 6-second period.
Sunday the 23rd is 0.3m, 9-second period, clean but tiny. Monday and Tuesday are flat with energy in the single digits. Wednesday the 26th to Friday the 28th sees swell building, but the wind stays ugly. Thursday afternoon the 27th hits 1.9m from the ENE at 6 seconds, cross-onshore at 45 km/h, energy at 253 – but it’s messy. Friday the 28th afternoon gets to 2.5m from the ENE at 8 seconds, 742 energy, but 30 km/h cross-onshore winds ruin it. Too big for beginners, but the wind is garbage.
Saturday the 29th afternoon is the biggest – 3.0m from the ENE, 8 seconds, energy at 1150. But it’s cross-onshore at 25 km/h, so choppy. Experts only, and still not clean. Sunday the 30th morning is 1.1m from the ENE, 9 seconds, light onshore – slightly better but still not great.
The best chance comes Tuesday the 1st of September afternoon. 2.3m from the ENE, 8 seconds, energy at 613, and a clean cross-off breeze from the SSW at 20 km/h. That’s the one window that gets a marginal score. The period is short, so not ideal for a reef that needs long-period groundswell to work, but for experienced surfers, that’s your best shot. Crowds are possible, but for a rarely-breaking spot, not a big worry.
After that, it drops back. Wednesday the 2nd morning has 2.2m (8 seconds, 1070 energy) but onshore wind. Thursday the 3rd onward fades to 1.6m and smaller, with cross-onshore winds. By the 4th and 5th of September, it’s back to 0.9m with strong onshores.
So really, there’s no standout. If you’re desperate, try Tuesday the 1st of September afternoon. Otherwise, this reef is staying quiet. Sometimes you get a run like this – just a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NE by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | E 8 | NE 4 | ENE 6 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | S 17 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 21 | 46 | 29 | 71 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 249 | 342 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:28PM1.25m | 12:11PM1.16m | 00:48AM1.27m | 1:47PM1.32m | 1:52AM1.40m | 2:22PM1.50m | 2:28AM1.55m | 2:50PM1.67m | 2:57AM1.68m | 3:17PM1.82m | 3:25AM1.80m | 3:43PM1.94m | 3:52AM1.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:31PM0.94m | 5:06AM0.97m | 6:20PM1.00m | 7:26AM0.86m | 7:49PM0.85m | 8:07AM0.70m | 8:27PM0.69m | 8:37AM0.55m | 8:57PM0.54m | 9:04AM0.41m | 9:24PM0.40m | 9:31AM0.28m | 9:51PM0.30m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 18 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 11 | S 14 | SSW 15 | ENE 6 | E 9 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | S 17 | S 17 | S 17 | S 13 | S 17 | S 17 |
| kJ | 398 | 217 | 239 | 375 | 14 | 6 | 31 | 362 | 94 | 70 | 68 | 73 | 520 | 307 | 470 | 1621 | 3226 | 1155 | 2499 | 2187 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 13 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | ENE 4 | SSW 16 | SSE 9 | S 16 | E 9 | E 9 | — | S 17 | — | — |
| kJ | 21 | 46 | 11 | 289 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 91 | 80 | 11 | 263 | 64 | 190 | 6 | 6 | — | 826 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 11 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 188 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 26 | 80 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 6 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | S 12 | — | — | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 29 | 71 | 1858 | 952 | 493 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | 279 | — | — | 57 | 249 | 342 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 405 | 329 | 285 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 713 | 739 | 423 |
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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