Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, ENE swell with 1,781 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m 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 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5AM. 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Alright, so we’ve got a tricky 16-day stretch with only one spot on the map—Vetchs Reef. This reef “rarely breaks,” so when it does, you gotta move. Water temp is about 20° which is a bit colder than normal for the season, so maybe a thicker suit.
First real hope doesn’t come until Tuesday the 15th. Before that, Saturday the 12th through Monday the 14th are all poor—blown out by onshore winds and big messy surf. Monday the 14th sees 12ft of east-northeast swell, but with a near gale cross-onshore, it’s a kite-surfing mess, not for paddle boards.
Tuesday the 15th morning is the big standout. Vetchs Reef: 7ft east swell, period 9 sec, combined energy is moderate, but the wind goes glassy—dead calm. Clean, lined up, and uncrowded because it’s a rare break. The afternoon gets trashed by storms, so dawn patrol is the only call.
Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th are marginal—6ft dropping to 5ft, with cross or cross-off winds. Rideable but nothing special. Friday the 18th is small and ordinary, then we hit a dry spell from Saturday the 19th through Sunday the 20th with rain and messy wind.
The second window opens Monday the 21st of September. Vetchs Reef gets a 8ft southeast swell, combined energy moderate, with a clean cross-off breeze from the west-southwest. Morning is best, but the afternoon holds 7ft with barely a breath of wind. A long-range promise, but worth watching.
After that, it’s downhill. Tuesday the 22nd onward brings onshore winds and shrinking swell, right through to the 27th.
So—Tuesday the 15th morning and Monday the 21st. That’s your lot. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the E by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the SW by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 | ENE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 94 | 194 | 315 | 95 | 383 | 742 | 1725 | 1288 | 771 | 627 | 618 | 586 | 504 | 494 | 386 | 296 | 161 | 117 | 83 | 81 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:29PM2.13m | 4:41AM2.00m | 4:56PM2.09m | 5:08AM1.93m | 5:23PM2.00m | 5:34AM1.83m | 5:48PM1.88m | 5:58AM1.71m | 6:12PM1.73m | 6:23AM1.56m | 6:36PM1.57m | 6:49AM1.41m | 7:02PM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:38PM0.14m | 10:45AM0.13m | 11:06PM0.19m | 11:12AM0.20m | 11:32PM0.29m | 11:37AM0.32m | 11:58PM0.41m | 12:00PM0.46m | 00:22AM0.55m | 12:24PM0.62m | 00:49AM0.70m | 12:49PM0.79m | 1:22AM0.86m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | |  |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 81 |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 17 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | S 15 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 94 | 194 | 203 | 315 | 67 | 166 | 121 | 63 | 771 | 627 | 618 | 586 | 504 | 494 | 386 | 296 | 161 | 117 | 83 | 81 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 69 | 90 | 71 | 78 | 196 | 81 | 2 | 104 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 8 | 30 | 38 | 84 | 2 | 147 | 29 | 25 | 51 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SSE 7 | — | S 18 | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | SSW 15 | S 18 | S 10 | — | — | — | NE 7 | S 16 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 29 | 41 | 274 | 48 | — | 54 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 22 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 | S 4 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 7 | 42 | 315 | 95 | 383 | 742 | 1725 | 1288 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 36 | 1878 | 1600 | 998 | 830 | 675 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 856 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 862 | 683 | 562 | 102 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 405 | 856 | 1 | 562 | 907 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 242 |
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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