
Surf Forecasts:
Warner Beach surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with 3,937 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Warner Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Warner Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Warner Beach in the next 16 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 18s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 21st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Warner Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
This stretch is a mixed bag, mate. We’ve got some proper swell windows, but you're gonna have to pick your moments. The first couple of days are pretty much a write-off—Tuesday the 15th is a mess with a strong cross-shore, but hold on, that Tuesday afternoon actually cleans right up. Glassy conditions, solid 6ft of east swell, and it’s looking like the first real chance to get wet. That’s the one to start with.
Warner Beach (KwaZulu-Natal) is sitting with that ESE swell, which is pretty much right in its wheelhouse. The water’s around 70°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so nothing crazy there. That Tuesday arvo session is the standout early on—clean, glassy, decent push. The combined energy is moderate at 646, so it’s not pumping, but it’s fun. Not huge, but clean.
Wednesday the 16th is a bit of a tease. Morning has some shape but questionable tide, and the arvo gets smashed by a strong south cross-onshore. Thursday the 17th morning is still messy, but that afternoon flips it—light offshore, clean, and a solid 5ft of east swell. The energy jumps to 1193, so there’s some push behind it. That’s another good one, especially if you can sneak out before the next system.
Now, here’s where it gets tricky. From Friday the 18th through the weekend, the swell kicks up but it gets too big for this spot. 12ft plus is well overhead, and while the direction is fine, it’s just too much for Warner Beach. It’s not a beginner wave anyway, and with that size, it’s only for the crew who really know what they’re doing. The wind is also all over the place—cross-shore, lumpy, messy. The energy readings are up there—2082, 2718, 2022—so there’s serious power, but it’s not lining up for us. I’d say give it a miss unless you’re a proper charger and the tide lines up, but even then, it looks more like a battle than a joyride.
Early next week, Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd are poor. Strong winds, rain, lumpy chop—no good. Then we finally get a proper gap. From the 23rd through the 24th the swell drops right off, but the conditions clean up. Wednesday the 23rd morning is clean with a light offshore, but it’s only 6ft and pretty average. Thursday the 24th arvo goes glassy with a tiny 3ft—that’s more of a longboard or grovel board session. Not much energy there.
Then from Friday the 25th through the 27th, it’s mostly poor again. Cross-shore winds, rain, chop, and the swell is swinging between 6ft and 7ft but it’s just messy. The 27th morning picks up a bit of size but it’s still cross-onshore. By Sunday arvo, it’s up to 10ft and actually glassy—that’s a big, clean wave, but again, it’s too much for this break. That one’s for the experts only.
The last couple of days, the 28th and 29th, are a letdown. Sizewise it fades, but the wind is onshore and lumpy. The 29th afternoon has a bit of south swell but it’s short-period and messy. Honestly, the window from Tuesday the 15th arvo through Thursday the 17th arvo is your best bet. Clean, manageable, and fun. The next standouts are those bigger days on the 18th and 19th, but they’re more about survival than style.
So, bottom line: don’t force it early, get on it Tuesday and Thursday, then pick your poison over the weekend. Keep an eye on the tides, and don't be afraid to sit it out when the wind has its say.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 64mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 17°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Fri afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 9 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1821 | 2498 | 705 | 619 | 669 | 586 | 520 | 333 | 565 | 452 | 650 | 1761 | 1957 | 3400 | 2619 | 1978 | 1530 | 1170 | 1048 | 627 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | off | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:23PM1.81m | 5:33AM1.65m | 5:48PM1.68m | 5:58AM1.53m | 6:12PM1.53m | 6:22AM1.39m | 6:35PM1.37m | 6:47AM1.24m | 7:01PM1.20m | 7:19AM1.08m | 7:46PM1.04m | 11:54AM0.96m | 00:37AM1.04m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:30PM0.13m | 11:36AM0.14m | 11:55PM0.24m | 12:01PM0.28m | 00:20AM0.37m | 12:26PM0.43m | 00:47AM0.52m | 12:53PM0.60m | 1:21AM0.68m | 1:30PM0.77m | 3:05AM0.83m | 6:11PM0.86m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | |
5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 4 | 9 | 5 | 28 | 14 | 9 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 19 |
Temp °C | 24 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SE 10 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SW 12 | E 10 | E 9 |
83 | 1628 | 705 | 619 | 669 | 586 | 520 | 333 | 368 | 296 | 426 | 64 | 48 | 2768 | 2619 | 1978 | 1530 | 6 | 1048 | 627 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | E 10 | E 10 | S 15 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 17 |
2 | 36 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 8 | 27 | 17 | 333 | 452 | 121 | 257 | 10 | 24 | 51 | 44 | 18 | 29 | 5 | 30 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 16 | S 15 | — | — | SSW 15 | S 17 | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | SW 11 | — | SW 16 | S 15 | S 11 |
— | — | 28 | 23 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 21 | 23 | — | — | — | — | 48 | 59 | — | 10 | 4 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | NE 9 | SW 4 | — | — | — | S 5 | S 7 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | — | — | NE 6 | E 10 | NE 7 | — |
1821 | 2498 | 10 | — | — | — | 168 | 267 | 565 | 422 | 650 | 1761 | 1957 | 3400 | — | — | 302 | 1170 | 440 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 394 | 74 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 881 | 25 | 28 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 184 | 8 | 209 | 808 | 375 | 27 | 74 | 25 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Warner Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Warner Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Warner Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Warner Beach 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 (Warner Beach) 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 Warner Beach 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.
Warner Beach is 11 km (7 miles) from Umlazi. If you plan a holiday in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Umlazi. Umlazi has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










