Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SE swell with 1,358 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s 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 (Aug 07) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and settle in, because this is a tricky one. Honestly, for the next week and a half, there’s not much to get excited about. We’re looking at Vetchs Reef, a tricky reef break that rarely breaks, and it’s going to take its time showing us anything worthwhile. The water is sitting at 71°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no drama there.
The first real chance of anything rideable doesn’t pop up until around Wednesday, August 12th. Before that, it’s a whole lot of small, weak, choppy junk with winds all over the place. The energy is weak to moderate at best, but the wind is just messy. For a few days from Sunday, August 9th, we get some clean conditions with those cross-off breezes, but the swell is tiny – 2ft to 2ft – and the energy is all over the place. Not worth paddling out for.
Now, Wednesday, August 12th is where things start to get interesting. We’ve got some moderate energy building with a 8ft swell from the SE. The wind is cross-off and clean, but the period is a short 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and fat. The combined energy is strong, so there’s some push, but the surf quality is still marginal. The morning of the 12th might be a bit too big for beginners, but for the more experienced crew, it could be a goer. The afternoon drops a touch to 7ft, still clean. Thursday, August 13th offers similar, with 6ft to 6ft and light winds, making it a decent option for a wave.
The standout for me, though, is Tuesday, August 18th. Tuesday afternoon, we get a glassy window with a 3ft swell from the ESE, period 10 seconds, and light winds. The energy is moderate and the conditions are clean. It’s small, but for a reef break that’s been sleeping, a clean, glassy day with a little push is a real treat. The bigger days on the 12th and 13th have more power, but the wind on the 18th is perfect.
Honestly, this is a waiting game. The first week is a write-off. The second week shows some promise, but it’s not a classic. If you’re keen, pencil in Wednesday, August 12th for a bigger, more powerful session, or hold out for Tuesday, August 18th for a cleaner, smaller wave. The swell direction is mainly from the E and ESE, which is a little off the optimum NE, but it’ll still wrap in.
Stay patient, keep an eye on the charts, and I’ll see you in the water if it turns on.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, near gales from the SSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon morning, moderate winds from the SSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 83 | 83 | 83 | 113 | 181 | 271 | 150 | 88 | 58 | 45 | 30 | 381 | 66 | 66 | 1358 | 911 | 816 | 675 | 553 | 419 | 267 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 9:31AM1.34m | 10:33PM1.41m | 11:49AM1.33m | 00:34AM1.45m | 1:29PM1.48m | 1:51AM1.59m | 2:27PM1.68m | 2:43AM1.75m | 3:12PM1.86m | 3:25AM1.88m | 3:50PM2.00m | 4:03AM1.96m | 4:26PM2.07m | 4:37AM2.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:49PM0.80m | 5:21AM0.80m | 6:06PM0.81m | 7:07AM0.68m | 7:39PM0.67m | 8:10AM0.50m | 8:36PM0.50m | 8:56AM0.33m | 9:21PM0.35m | 9:36AM0.20m | 9:59PM0.24m | 10:12AM0.12m | 10:35PM0.18m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 83 | 83 | 83 | 113 | 140 | 168 | 150 | 88 | 58 | 45 | 30 | 381 | 66 | 66 | 1358 | 911 | 816 | 675 | 553 | 419 | 267 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 11 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | E 11 |
| kJ | 32 | 98 | 83 | 99 | 24 | 46 | 77 | 137 | — | — | — | 48 | 66 | 61 | 135 | 246 | 183 | 158 | 114 | 106 | 81 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | S 5 | SE 5 | SSW 12 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | NE 6 | — | — | — | S 14 | — | — | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 22 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | S 10 |
| kJ | 143 | 14 | 5 | 45 | — | 116 | 60 | 18 | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 195 | 45 | 6 | 18 | 35 | 107 | 48 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSE 5 | — | NE 4 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 47 | 10 | — | 15 | 181 | 271 | 42 | 88 | 1233 | 1979 | 1716 | 513 | 943 | 1119 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 156 | 2 | 2 | 218 | 0 | 155 | 2611 | 685 | 432 | 907 | 404 | 896 | 1241 | 47 | 218 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 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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