J-Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.05° S 24.93° E

Issued: 7 am 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's J-Bay sea temperature is
17.9° C

1.3°C colder than average for this time of year

J-Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


J-Bay surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 3 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 4,704 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period with SE 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 (Jul 03) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 2.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at J-Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2PM (Fri 3rd Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 11s
Best Surf 2PM (Fri 3rd Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 11s
Most Powerful 8PM (Thu 9th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for J-Bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for J-Bay.

We’re kicking off with a solid run of surf. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

Friday morning, July 3rd, we’ve got a nice 7ft SE swell rolling in with an 11-second period. The wind is a cross-off from the NW, keeping things clean. The combined energy is strong at 2159, so there’s plenty of push. This is excellent for experienced surfers. Friday afternoon turns glassy with a northerly breeze dropping to nothing, and the swell bumps up a touch to 8ft from the SE – a stunning afternoon on the cards.

Saturday the 4th holds that quality. Morning sees a 7ft SE swell with a longer 12-second period, clean under a NW cross-off. Afternoon goes glassy again with an ESE breeze and a slightly smaller 6ft SE swell. This is prime J-Bay.

Sunday the 5th morning still has clean 5ft surf from the SE, but it’s dropping. The afternoon turns cross-on from the south, and the quality dips – it’s getting marginal.

Monday the 6th brings a change. The swell swings to the SW, 7ft with a 12-second period. Morning is glassy with a NNW breeze – that’s your best bet for the day. The afternoon gets an onshore easterly, so morning all the way.

Tuesday the 7th and Wednesday the 8th keep the SW swell going, 7ft to 8ft, 12-14 seconds. Winds are cross-off from the WSW, keeping it clean. By Wednesday afternoon, the swell is pushing 10ft and the energy is cranking at 3298 – this is big and powerful, for experienced surfers only now.

Thursday the 9th sees the swell pumping. Morning is 8ft from the SSW, 14 seconds, but the wind goes onshore from the SE, so it’s not clean. Afternoon gets even bigger – 12ft SSW, 15-second period, very long period groundswell, but onshore winds again. This is heavy, messy, and for experts only if they can find a window.

Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th are messy with onshore and cross-on winds from the east, swell still big at 8ft to 10ft from the SSW. Not great for paddle surfing – this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

We hit a rough patch from Sunday the 12th through Monday the 13th. Poor surf, onshore winds, rain, and dropping swell. Tuesday the 14th morning offers a small reprieve with a clean 4ft easterly swell under a NW cross-off, but it’s weak.

Now, here’s the standout. The forecast is pointing to something special around the 16th and 17th of July. On Thursday the 16th morning, we’ve got a massive 16ft SW swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is offshore from the west, 15 km/h – gentle offshore and clean. The energy is off the charts at 6973. This is exceptional surf for expert surfers only – it’s huge. Thursday afternoon gets even bigger at 18ft SW, but it goes cross-shore.

Then Friday the 17th morning is glassy, 13ft SW swell – clean and powerful. And Saturday the 18th keeps the run going: 12ft S swell, 12 seconds, with light NNW wind in the morning and glassy conditions in the afternoon.

The absolute standout is Thursday the 16th of July – that 16ft SW swell with clean offshore wind is the one to circle. It’s a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it, but if it holds, that’s a session to remember. For the more moderate crowd, Friday the 17th morning is also a serious contender with glassy 13ft surf.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SE
11
2.4
SE
11
2.5
SE
12
2.1
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
1.6
SE
12
1.4
SE
12
1.3
ESE
11
1.1
SE
11
2.1
SW
12
2.2
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
2.2
SW
12
2.5
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
2.5
SSW
14
3.5
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1172
1396
2010
1220
880
671
539
426
286
1337
1346
1510
1298
1319
1336
2424
3059
2681
3023
4581
3985
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
5
N
10
NNW
10
NW
5
SE
10
N
10
NNW
10
S
5
NNW
5
NNW
10
E
5
NNW
15
W
10
SW
10
WNW
20
WSW
15
WSW
5
SW
10
SE
10
E
15
NE
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
5:53PM1.50m
5:56AM1.43m
6:27PM1.49m
6:31AM1.38m
7:04PM1.47m
7:11AM1.31m
7:46PM1.43m
8:00AM1.23m
8:38PM1.39m
9:05AM1.15m
9:46PM1.35m
10:31AM1.11m
11:10PM1.34m
Low Tide
11:36AM0.18m
11:57PM0.33m
12:08PM0.20m
00:34AM0.36m
12:41PM0.25m
1:15AM0.39m
1:20PM0.31m
2:04AM0.43m
2:07PM0.39m
3:06AM0.47m
3:08PM0.46m
4:23AM0.48m
4:28PM0.51m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
 mm
2
2
Temp °C
16
19
16
16
19
16
18
22
17
18
19
18
18
19
16
17
18
15
15
15
15
Feels °C
12
15
13
12
17
14
14
18
15
16
17
16
15
17
16
13
15
14
16
14
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
SW
9
2.4
SE
11
2.5
SE
12
2.1
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
1.6
SE
12
1.4
SE
12
1.3
ESE
11
1.1
SE
11
2.1
SW
12
2.2
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
2.2
SW
12
2.5
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
2.5
SSW
14
3.5
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
Energy kJ
980
1396
2010
1220
880
671
539
426
278
1337
1346
1510
1298
1319
1336
2424
3059
2681
3023
4581
3985
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SE
11
1.4
SW
9
1.2
WSW
10
1.4
SW
10
1.4
SW
9
1.2
SW
9
1.1
SW
9
1.2
WSW
9
0.9
WSW
9
0.9
ESE
11
0.8
ESE
10
0.7
ESE
10
0.6
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
ESE
15
0.2
ESE
14
Energy kJ
1172
302
281
384
353
231
178
216
119
200
138
90
64
36
22
16
8
8
8
21
20
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
19
0.7
SW
10
0.9
SW
11
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
14
0.9
SW
13
0.2
S
8
0.3
ENE
6
0.2
ENE
7
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.1
SE
18
0.1
SE
16
Energy kJ
7
112
209
81
132
188
171
218
286
5
8
5
18
17
17
8
8
12
10
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
WSW
5
1.6
SW
6
Energy kJ
59
223
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
19
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
172
197
52
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South)
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
8
5
4
5
5
9
6
7
6
9
7
5
6
9
9
9
6
5
6
6
  • 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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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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