J-Bay surf break

J-Bay surfForecast / Eastern Cape (S) / South Africa

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 am Thursday 01 Jan 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
J-Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's J-Bay sea temperature is
18.5° C
(Which is 3.7°C colder than average for this time of year)
Nearby Cam: 3km away, JBay webcam South Africa | super tubes live stream | lower point


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for J-Bay this week:

The surf forecast for J-Bay over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 01) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at J-Bay in the next 12 days are 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 07) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jan 03) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Thu 1st Jan)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Best Surf 8PM (Sat 3rd Jan)3.5ft (1.1m) 15s
Most Powerful 8AM (Wed 7th Jan)13ft (4.0m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for J-Bay over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 17°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
01
Friday
02
Saturday
03
Sunday
04
Monday
05
Tuesday
06
Wednesday
07
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
3
1
1
3
1
1
4
0
0
3
1
2
3
1
3
7
4
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.1
SW
1
SW
1.2
SW
1.2
SW
1.5
ESE
1
SW
0.8
SW
1
SW
1.4
SW
1.3
SW
1.2
SW
1.1
SW
1.3
SW
1.3
SW
1.4
SW
1.7
SW
1.9
SW
3.5
SW
4
SSW
3.5
SW
2.5
SW
Period(s) (?)10101312912161514131312121211111114131212
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)2702004664093522813104447315524863304424694886968354522507035271893
Wind
(km/h)
20
SSW
15
S
5
WNW
20
SSW
20
SSW
10
WNW
20
S
15
SSE
0
NNW
20
SSE
15
SSE
5
NNE
15
SE
15
S
10
NW
20
SSW
25
SW
25
WSW
30
SW
30
SW
10
W
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
on
offcrosscrossoffcrosscross-
on
glasscross-
on
cross-
on
glasscross-
on
crossoffcrosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:10PM
1.56
2:45AM
1.47
3:01PM
1.63
3:32AM
1.57
3:47PM
1.67
4:16AM
1.64
4:29PM
1.66
4:57AM
1.67
5:09PM
1.62
5:37AM
1.66
5:47PM
1.53
6:16AM
1.61
6:23PM
1.43
Low Tide
/ height (m)
8:35PM
0.17
8:48AM
0.22
9:21PM
0.08
9:37AM
0.15
10:04PM
0.03
10:23AM
0.12
10:43PM
0.02
11:06AM
0.13
11:21PM
0.04
11:46AM
0.19
11:56PM
0.10
12:26PM
0.27
12:31AM
0.19
Thursday
01
Friday
02
Saturday
03
Sunday
04
Monday
05
Tuesday
06
Wednesday
07
Sunrise5:11--5:11--5:13--5:13--5:15--5:15--5:16--
Sunset-7:34--7:35--7:35--7:35--7:35--7:35--7:35-
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
Rain (mm)
--------12-----------
Temp. °C242321232320222221212119232220242522242319
Feels °C (?)222023212020222023201919212020212119201918
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our J-Bay 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.


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Information about the J-Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for J-Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at J-Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our J-Bay 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 (J-Bay) 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 J-Bay 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.

J-Bay is 19 km (12 miles) from the city of Kruisfontein. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Kruisfontein. Kruisfontein has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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