
Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 7s period, NE swell with 520 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 Friday (Jul 03) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Vetchs Reef in the next 16 days are 2.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) 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 3.0m 13s period and expected on Friday (Jul 03) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 3rd Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, let's break this down. We're looking at a lean stretch ahead, and the only break worth talking about is Vetchs Reef. It's a finicky spot that rarely breaks, so when it does, you have to be ready. The early days are small, but there's some grunt later on.
The forecast starts on Friday, July 3rd, with a knee-high 2ft easterly swell, a 13-second period. The morning is glassy, which is sweet, but the wave energy is weak (82). It's surfable, but just barely. That glassy window is gone by the afternoon.
Saturday the 4th is the same story – tiny 2ft east swell. The morning has a clean offshore breeze, but the energy is still low (93). It's a marginal session.
Sunday through Wednesday of next week is a write-off. A lot of cross-on wind, choppy conditions, and the swell stays small. When it does bump up on Monday the 6th, it's a short-period 7-second wind swell. The energy jumps to 382 on Monday morning, but the direction is wrong for the reef. It's a mess.
Now, here's the real deal. On Tuesday, July 7th, the morning shows 5ft of swell from the NE, but the period is a terrible 7 seconds and the wind is cross-on. That's a hard pass. The energy is moderate (399), but the quality is poor.
The standout window looks like Monday, July 13th, but it's for experts only. The afternoon brings a solid 7ft swell from the east, with an 8-second period. The combined energy is very strong (1023). This is a big, powerful swell. But – and it's a big but – the wind is a fresh 19 mph from the NE, cross-on, making it lumpy and ugly. This is a miss for paddle surfing. This setup is honestly more interesting for the kite surfers.
Then, Tuesday, July 14th, gives a cleaner look. The morning has a 6ft east swell with a cross-off wind from the SSW at 15 mph, keeping the surface clean. The energy is good (422). This is the kind of day for advanced surfers only – 6ft is solid, and it's a reef. The afternoon eases to 7ft with a light cross-shore wind, still clean-ish.
Wednesday, July 15th, is another big day: 7ft from the NE in the morning, with a clean cross-off breeze from the SSW at 19 mph. Energy is strong (838). Again, this is expert territory. The swell direction is straight onshore for the optimum NE direction this reef loves, so it should be proper. The afternoon drops off.
July water temps are running a bit warmer than usual. Overall, this is not a run of consistent, easy surf. You've got a solid 8-day gap from the 5th to the 12th where the recommendations are poor. If you're an expert and can nail the window on the 14th or 15th, that's your best bet. For everyone else, it's a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thu 9 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | NE 6 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
30 | 82 | 116 | 101 | 93 | 65 | 60 | 59 | 40 | 124 | 151 | 91 | 428 | 228 | 105 | 157 | 102 | 166 | 99 | 54 | 55 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:29AM1.73m | 5:56PM1.80m | 6:02AM1.69m | 6:30PM1.78m | 6:36AM1.64m | 7:07PM1.74m | 7:14AM1.58m | 7:49PM1.69m | 8:00AM1.51m | 8:41PM1.62m | 8:59AM1.43m | 9:47PM1.55m | 10:21AM1.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:29PM0.44m | 11:39AM0.34m | 00:03AM0.46m | 12:11PM0.36m | 00:39AM0.50m | 12:45PM0.40m | 1:17AM0.55m | 1:24PM0.47m | 2:03AM0.62m | 2:11PM0.54m | 3:00AM0.68m | 3:12PM0.63m | 4:16AM0.72m | 4:34PM0.69m | |||||||
— | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | |
5:07 | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 14 | S 12 | S 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | ENE 6 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | S 12 |
1840 | 3395 | 1814 | 3246 | 2165 | 1530 | 1018 | 749 | 624 | 317 | 66 | 102 | 207 | 108 | 30 | 157 | 102 | 166 | 99 | 54 | 383 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | ENE 6 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 9 |
30 | 82 | 82 | 101 | 93 | 65 | 60 | 59 | 40 | 40 | 151 | 19 | 79 | 45 | 42 | 84 | 73 | 64 | 45 | 86 | 55 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | — | E 13 | E 12 | SW 10 | SW 20 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | ESE 11 | E 11 | S 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 16 | SSE 15 |
5 | — | 116 | 98 | 53 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 39 | 20 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | SW 3 | — | — | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 8 |
3881 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 124 | 145 | 91 | 428 | 228 | 105 | 4 | — | — | 178 | 419 | 294 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 218 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 47 | 2 |
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.











