Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, SE swell with 863 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period with NE 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 (Jul 27) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Vetchs Reef in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 10s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ for this stretch. Truth is, we’re looking at a long, slow start with a whole lot of nothin’ for the first few days. The only break worth a look is Vetchs Reef, and it’s a tricky one. It’s a reef setup, and it’s advanced only, rarely breaks, and when it does, it’s a bit of a secret spot. The water’s sitting at 73°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice little bonus if you’re in.
The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t roll in until Thursday the 30th. That Thursday morning, the wind goes glassy, and we get a solid 7 ft swell out of the SE with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is strong, coming in at 750, so there’s some real grunt in the water. That morning window is the standout for the whole run – clean, glassy, and punchy. It’s a reef, so with that size and long period energy, it’ll be thick and fast, but it’s strictly for the experienced crew. Beginners, stay clear.
Friday the 31st morning is also a winner. Offshore wind from the W at 10 km/h, with a 6 ft SE swell (period 10 seconds) and energy at 627. That’s clean, offshore, and will have some proper shape. The best of the best is definitely Thursday the 30th morning, though.
Then, on Saturday the 1st of August, we get a morning with dead calm – zero wind, glassy. The swell is 7 ft from the ESE, with a period of 10 seconds and a very strong energy of 959. That’s a massive amount of energy heading in. It’ll be big, powerful, and clean. For experts only, no question.
After that, the quality drops off. The wind turns onshore, and the swell holds but gets chopped up. There’s a bit of a clean-up on Monday the 3rd with cross-offshore winds and a 6 ft ESE swell, but it’s not going to match the glassy mornings. The last glimmer of hope is on Saturday the 8th of August, with a morning of clean cross-offshore wind and a 4 ft ENE swell, but it’s a weak offering compared to the earlier stuff.
Bottom line: if you’re an advanced surfer, mark your calendar for Thursday the 30th of July and Saturday the 1st of August. The rest of the window is mostly a dud. Vetchs Reef is a rare jewel, but it’s not for everyone.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Mon afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 59 | 40 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 335 | 206 | 104 | 194 | 33 | 48 | 41 | 60 | 329 | 87 | 90 | 75 | 750 | 813 | 723 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 00:47AM1.38m | 1:42PM1.33m | 1:52AM1.47m | 2:30PM1.47m | 2:37AM1.57m | 3:06PM1.60m | 3:13AM1.67m | 3:38PM1.73m | 3:44AM1.75m | 4:07PM1.83m | 4:14AM1.81m | 4:36PM1.91m | 4:43AM1.85m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:17PM0.89m | 7:26AM0.78m | 7:39PM0.81m | 8:16AM0.66m | 8:30PM0.69m | 8:53AM0.54m | 9:09PM0.58m | 9:25AM0.43m | 9:42PM0.47m | 9:54AM0.34m | 10:13PM0.39m | 10:23AM0.27m | 10:43PM0.34m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 192 | 623 | 631 | 528 | 460 | 335 | 206 | 73 | 78 | 33 | 87 | 443 | 266 | 576 | 883 | 744 | 651 | 750 | 813 | 723 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 59 | 457 | 309 | 225 | 163 | 312 | 307 | 117 | 234 | 63 | 48 | 41 | 60 | 85 | 87 | 90 | 293 | 135 | 121 | 98 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | S 16 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 16 | — | S 11 | SSW 15 | — | — | E 10 | — | — | E 10 |
| kJ | — | 40 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | 193 | 24 | 24 | 50 | — | 9 | 179 | — | — | 75 | — | — | 18 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | S 7 | S 7 | S 9 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2560 | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 104 | 194 | 160 | 326 | 230 | 476 | 329 | 578 | 599 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 404 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 695 | 4 | 2 | 780 | 666 | 895 | 404 | 129 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 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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