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Zinkwazi Surf Forecast
/ KZN North (23 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Zinkwazi surfForecast / KZN North / South Africa
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Sunday 17 May 2026 SASTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Zinkwazi surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Zinkwazi sea temperature is
24.5° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Zinkwazi this week:
The surf forecast for Zinkwazi over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (May 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Zinkwazi in the next 16 days are 1.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 18) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Friday (May 22) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 18th May) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 18th May) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 18th May) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Zinkwazi over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NW by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Wed night, fresh winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 17 | Monday 18 | Tuesday 19 | Wednesday 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | Saturday 23 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 6 | S 12 | |
282 | 330 | 134 | 127 | 134 | 89 | 107 | 99 | 121 | 81 | 106 | 99 | 79 | 58 | 77 | 71 | 58 | 51 | 50 | 38 | 75 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | |
High Tide | 4:04PM1.86m | 4:23AM1.96m | 4:45PM1.84m | 5:04AM1.87m | 5:29PM1.77m | 5:46AM1.74m | 6:16PM1.67m | 6:33AM1.58m | 7:11PM1.55m | 7:27AM1.42m | 8:20PM1.44m | 8:39AM1.29m | 9:48PM1.39m | 10:14AM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:07PM0.04m | 10:34AM0.04m | 10:50PM0.10m | 11:15AM0.11m | 11:34PM0.21m | 11:58AM0.21m | 00:23AM0.36m | 12:46PM0.34m | 1:19AM0.52m | 1:43PM0.47m | 2:32AM0.65m | 2:56PM0.57m | 4:08AM0.71m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 |
 | 5:08 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | 5:06 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | |
Temp °C | 23 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
20 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 6 | E 8 | ESE 11 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | S 6 | E 8 |
 kJ | 282 | 330 | 134 | 127 | 42 | 57 | 68 | 87 | 83 | 81 | 106 | 99 | 79 | 78 | 133 | 71 | 116 | 63 | 49 | 38 | 61 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 5 | E 6 | SSE 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | E 7 | S 12 |
| kJ | — | 25 | 27 | 66 | 134 | 89 | 57 | 99 | 121 | 81 | 74 | 60 | 41 | 42 | 77 | 60 | 58 | 51 | 50 | 37 | 75 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 15 | E 10 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | S 14 | S 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | S 12 | S 20 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | S 14 |
| kJ | — | — | 109 | 8 | 25 | 45 | 107 | 31 | 19 | 60 | 78 | 35 | 64 | 58 | 71 | 7 | 47 | 45 | 28 | 33 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | E 6 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | E 7 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSE 5 |
| kJ | 12 | 45 | 82 | 57 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 30 | 16 | 107 | — | 2 | 5 | 78 | 28 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 556 | 0 | 26 | 83 | 0 | 26 | 83 | 0 | 63 | 83 | 0 | 83 | 721 | 41 | 83 | 83 | 23 | 75 | 75 | 23 | 76 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Zinkwazi 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 Zinkwazi Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Zinkwazi provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Zinkwazi can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Zinkwazi 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 (Zinkwazi) 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 Zinkwazi 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 KwaZulu-Natal North Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Zinkwazi, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, consider staying in Stanger which is 21 km (13 miles) away. Other places in and around KwaZulu-Natal North Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Eshowe which is 38 km (24 miles) away, Ballitoville, eSikhawini and Empangeni.
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