Surf Forecasts:
J-Bay surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 7,297 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period with E 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 2.1m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.6m and 13s 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) 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 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for J-Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about the next few weeks at J-Bay. The first few days are a write-off – no good surf until Tuesday the 8th. That’s a gap of a couple of days with nothing to get excited about, so be patient.
The water’s sitting at 62°F which is a solid 4°F colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a good wetsuit. That’s notable.
Tuesday the 8th is where it finally lights up. Tuesday morning is glassy – zero wind – and a clean 4ft SW swell with a 13-second period rolling in. The combined energy is moderate (1113). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The wave quality will be there, just know it’s not a beginner wave at that size. This is the standout of the first week, no question.
Tuesday afternoon drops off a bit, only 4ft and the wind shifts onshore, so it’s marginal.
Wednesday the 9th morning has light cross-offshore wind from the SW, 4ft of E swell at 9 seconds, and combined energy of 515 – weak but clean. Expect very good, fun conditions for a smaller board.
The real beast shows up on Monday the 14th. Monday morning brings a 13ft WSW swell with an 11-second period, light cross-offshore wind, and combined energy of 7325 – that’s strong. This is exceptional surf for expert surfers only. Over 8ft is big, and this is a solid 13ft. If you’re not experienced, stay on the sand. The swell direction is from the WSW, which is a good match for the optimum S direction at J-Bay, delivering proper groundswell lines.
Sunday the 13th also has some appeal: 10ft swell from the E in the morning with light cross wind, but the afternoon gets clean cross-offshore from the SSW and 10ft from the ESE. Combined energy is strong (2956). Excellent for experienced surfers again.
Later in the week, Saturday the 19th morning has a clean 6ft E swell with light cross-offshore wind, combined energy 846 – a nice, mellow option for a session.
The long-range stuff around Sunday the 20th looks big again – 12ft to 15ft SW swell – but the wind is howling at 25 mph, so it’s going to be messy and only for the brave. Less certain that far out.
If you’re looking for the best on offer, lock in Tuesday the 8th morning for glassy perfection, and Monday the 14th morning for the big, clean groundswell that will have J-Bay doing what it does best. Crowds are possible at J-Bay, so get in early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | E 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 541 | 520 | 442 | 3786 | 7256 | 4542 | 2515 | 1733 | 1198 | 591 | 367 | 232 | 201 | 404 | 326 | 625 | 2948 | 2391 | 1811 | 1326 | 1019 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | on | on | cross | on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:45AM1.02m | 10:56PM1.12m | 12:16PM1.11m | 00:45AM1.23m | 1:25PM1.30m | 1:43AM1.38m | 2:11PM1.50m | 2:26AM1.51m | 2:48PM1.66m | 3:02AM1.61m | 3:22PM1.77m | 3:36AM1.66m | 3:54PM1.83m | 4:07AM1.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:00PM0.66m | 5:47AM0.59m | 6:28PM0.58m | 7:10AM0.43m | 7:38PM0.40m | 7:58AM0.27m | 8:23PM0.24m | 8:36AM0.13m | 9:01PM0.11m | 9:09AM0.03m | 9:35PM0.03m | 9:41AM-0.02m | 10:07PM-0.00m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | 21 |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 30 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 541 | 520 | 442 | 3786 | 7256 | 4542 | 2515 | 1733 | 702 | 416 | 280 | 201 | 201 | 404 | 326 | 376 | 2948 | 2391 | 1811 | 1326 | 1019 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SSW 10 | — | — | SSE 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 16 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 10 | SE 14 |
| kJ | 66 | 47 | 58 | 325 | — | — | 58 | 676 | 841 | 591 | 367 | 232 | 145 | 164 | 110 | 625 | 38 | 60 | 71 | 49 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 25 | WSW 10 | — | — | — | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SW 14 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 5 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SE 12 | — |
| kJ | 18 | 17 | 361 | 36 | — | — | — | 50 | 117 | 106 | 77 | 47 | 169 | 35 | 16 | 36 | 88 | 63 | 26 | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | W 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | SSE 7 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 193 | 163 | 153 | 110 | 139 | 273 | 623 | 1055 | 1198 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 75 | 58 | — | — | — | 175 | 572 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 598 | 598 | 197 | 197 | 559 | 197 | 172 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 142 | 0 | 192 | 180 | 2 | 180 | 140 | 509 |
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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