Surf Forecasts:
J-Bay surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, S swell with 3,078 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for J-Bay this week:
The surf forecast for J-Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 2.2m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at J-Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for J-Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mates, Rusty here, breakin' down the surf for J-Bay over the next couple weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first few days are a total loss. We got a solid pulse of SW swell, but the wind is just trashing it. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are a no-go, with strong cross-onshore winds making the bay a choppy mess. You’d be a fool to even try.
The water temp is a frigid 58°F – that’s a full 8°F colder than normal for this time of year, so you’re gonna need a thick suit.
We start to see a glimmer of hope on Thursday the 13th, with a 5ft SW swell, but it’s still cross-on and pretty average. Friday the 14th is where it gets interesting. The wind swings N, going cross-offshore, and the swell holds at 5ft with a solid 15-second period. It’s clean, but it’s still a bit marginal. That’s the appetizer.
The real standout window is from Sunday the 16th through Monday the 17th. Sunday morning starts with a clean 4ft cross-off from the W, but the afternoon is where it’s at – a 5ft E swell rolling in with a clean cross-off breeze. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the one.
Then Monday morning the 17th is a gem. The swell drops slightly to 5ft from the SW, but the wind goes glassy. Dead flat calm. That’s the pick of the whole forecast. For a point break like J-Bay, that glassy condition is pure gold. The swell has a 13-second period, so there’s some real grunt in it.
The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. We got another promising window around the 22nd of August, with clean conditions and a 6ft ESE swell, but the long-range stuff is a bit iffy. The 24th and 25th look like they could be fun too, with a bit more size, but the wind is a question mark this far out.
Overall, don’t bother early on. Wait for that glassy Sunday-Monday window. That’s the real deal.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Mon morning, strong winds from the ENE by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1839 | 2155 | 3074 | 1775 | 1022 | 691 | 712 | 922 | 1294 | 1129 | 1929 | 1225 | 1028 | 1001 | 833 | 586 | 577 | 486 | 437 | 588 | 440 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:20PM1.42m | 2:35AM1.53m | 3:04PM1.59m | 3:18AM1.63m | 3:44PM1.72m | 3:57AM1.68m | 4:20PM1.79m | 4:32AM1.68m | 4:55PM1.81m | 5:06AM1.63m | 5:28PM1.77m | 5:38AM1.56m | 5:59PM1.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:08AM0.28m | 8:27PM0.28m | 8:52AM0.14m | 9:13PM0.15m | 9:31AM0.03m | 9:54PM0.07m | 10:06AM-0.03m | 10:32PM0.03m | 10:40AM-0.04m | 11:06PM0.05m | 11:11AM-0.00m | 11:39PM0.11m | 11:41AM0.08m | 00:10AM0.20m | |||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 16 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 1839 | 2155 | 3074 | 1775 | 1022 | 500 | 323 | 922 | 1294 | 1129 | 1929 | 1225 | 401 | 347 | 339 | 265 | 266 | 339 | 421 | 588 | 440 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 9 | — | — | SW 24 | SSW 21 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 20 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 55 | 165 | 29 | — | — | 144 | 712 | 247 | 104 | 883 | 7 | 2 | 1028 | 1001 | 833 | 586 | 577 | 486 | 437 | 465 | 346 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | — | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 32 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 31 | 7 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 285 | — | — | 153 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | ESE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | — | E 8 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 194 | 73 | — | 625 | 773 | 691 | 566 | 808 | 1163 | 638 | 555 | 597 | 682 | — | 526 | — | — | 422 | — | 5 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 326 | 354 | 183 | 197 | 197 | 197 | 197 | 197 | 140 | 183 | 172 | 31 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 16 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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