Surf Forecasts:
Vetchs Reef surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 1,249 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s 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 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2PM. 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 9s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Vetchs Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mates, Rusty here, checking in on the local lineup. We’ve only got one spot on the cards, Vetchs Reef, and frankly, it’s a long, dry spell before anything decent shows up.
For the first week and a half, from the 23rd of July through to the 5th of August, you can forget it. It’s a big gap with no worthwhile surf. The conditions are mostly poor, with onshore and cross-shore winds, some heavy rain, and strong breezes making a mess of things. The swell is tiny and junky, and the wind just won’t play ball. It’s one of those stretches where you’re just waiting it out.
The one bright spot, and the only real standout, is the morning of Thursday, the 6th of August. We finally get a clean offshore wind from the SSW. The swell will be around 4 to 4 feet (1.1m), coming from the southeast with a long 13-second period, and a solid 502 (combined energy) behind it. That’s some proper groundswell, and with the wind cleaning it up, Vetchs Reef should be offering up some nice, lined-up waves. Just remember, this is a reef break for the experienced crew, and it’s a spot that rarely breaks, so it’s a special one when it does. The water is about 73°F, which is a degree or so warmer than average for this time of year.
After that, it’s back to choppy, onshore junk on the 7th. So, if you’re looking for a window, set your sights on that Thursday morning in early August. It’s a long way off, but it’s the only real chance we’ve got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Fri morning, calm by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 164 | 106 | 59 | 58 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 300 | 206 | 124 | 124 | 48 | 78 | 56 | 52 | 51 | 58 | 83 | 92 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 11:07PM1.35m | 12:17PM1.23m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:18PM0.88m | 6:01AM0.86m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 2 | 6 | 40 |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | S 19 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 8 | E 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | S 15 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 164 | 106 | 59 | 192 | 635 | 592 | 612 | 511 | 300 | 206 | 84 | 73 | 37 | 78 | 56 | 224 | 243 | 465 | 1125 | 1207 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | NE 6 | S 22 | SE 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | E 8 | SSW 12 | S 18 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | S 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 192 | 10 | 36 | 58 | 457 | 309 | 225 | 163 | 257 | 249 | 85 | 172 | 48 | 87 | 160 | 52 | 51 | 58 | 411 | 371 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | E 9 | — | E 10 | SE 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SSW 18 | S 16 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | S 14 | — | — | — | E 9 | E 10 |
| kJ | 37 | 6 | — | 2 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 61 | 134 | 24 | 63 | 51 | 14 | — | — | — | 83 | 92 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SSW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | — | NE 3 | ENE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 9 | SSE 10 | — | — |
| kJ | 25 | 229 | 2161 | 1380 | 1016 | — | — | — | 2 | 42 | 124 | 124 | — | 130 | 340 | 389 | 1075 | 1433 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 265 | 404 | 329 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 695 | 218 | 108 | 2 | 1 | 237 | 780 | 666 | 1 | 1 | 82 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Vetchs Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest