Surf Forecasts:
J-Bay surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 4,998 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for J-Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the upcoming window for J-Bay.
We’ve got a solid run of surf ahead, but it’s not all going to be clean. Right now, Thursday morning we’ve got a powerful 12ft SW swell pushing in with a 14-second period, but that cross-off wind from the WSW at 15 mph is going to keep it a bit gutless and bumpy. The water’s sitting at 63°, which is a touch colder than usual for this time of year. The combined energy is a massive 4570, so there’s heaps of power, but the conditions are just marginal. Things stay messy through the weekend with strong onshore winds building, so Sunday is a write-off with fresh onshores and lumpy, poor surf.
The real standout for the first week is Friday morning, 10 July. That’s when we see a clean 12ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, and the wind shifts to a light offshore from the W at 9 mph. The bay is going to be absolutely groomed. The combined energy is still pumping at 4228, so this is the one to aim for if you’re experienced. The 10ft swell on Friday afternoon is also clean, just a touch smaller.
Saturday morning drops off a bit with light onshores, and by Sunday it’s a mess. Monday and Tuesday are small and weak, but Tuesday morning, 14 July, brings a glassy 3ft east swell – tiny, but if you’re a learner, it’s as clean as it gets.
Now, looking further ahead to the second week, there’s another big pulse. Thursday morning, 16 July, we get a clean 7ft SW swell with a 14-second period and offshore WNW wind. That’s a solid, clean session. But the real big one is Monday morning, 20 July. That’s a glassy 12ft SW swell with a 12-second period, and the energy is 3351. It’s a classic J-Bay day, but it’s only for experts at that size. And then Tuesday, 21 July, goes absolutely nuclear: 13ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, combined energy of 8279, and glassy conditions. This is exceptional, but very long-period groundswell like that can be a bit too straight for the beach section at J-Bay – it’s best on the point. Still, for the experienced crew, that Tuesday morning is as good as it gets.
The last real standout in the window is Friday morning, 24 July: a clean 8ft WSW swell with a 14-second period and offshore wind. That’s another proper J-Bay day.
Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so on the best days, expect company. Overall, the first week’s highlight is Friday morning, 10 July, and the second week’s highlight is Monday morning, 20 July, with the massive Tuesday, 21 July, being the one for the brave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Sun afternoon, calm by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4550 | 4031 | 4852 | 4221 | 3399 | 2646 | 2482 | 2044 | 1538 | 777 | 604 | 423 | 346 | 318 | 226 | 94 | 240 | 225 | 198 | 219 | 443 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:31AM1.11m | 11:10PM1.34m | 12:04PM1.15m | 00:31AM1.39m | 1:19PM1.26m | 1:39AM1.48m | 2:19PM1.39m | 2:36AM1.57m | 3:09PM1.52m | 3:25AM1.64m | 3:55PM1.63m | 4:10AM1.67m | 4:39PM1.70m | 4:52AM1.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:28PM0.51m | 5:49AM0.45m | 5:58PM0.48m | 7:06AM0.36m | 7:17PM0.40m | 8:07AM0.24m | 8:21PM0.28m | 8:58AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.18m | 9:43AM0.05m | 10:03PM0.12m | 10:25AM0.01m | 10:48PM0.10m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | E 7 | SSW 10 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | SW 8 |
| kJ | 4550 | 4031 | 4852 | 4221 | 3399 | 2646 | 2482 | 2044 | 1538 | 777 | 604 | 423 | 157 | 318 | 226 | 94 | 240 | 225 | 198 | 219 | 177 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 16 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | E 9 | E 8 | W 12 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | S 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 10 | SE 8 | S 9 | W 11 | SW 12 | WSW 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 346 | 20 | 163 | 93 | 59 | 61 | 73 | 32 | 200 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | SW 18 | W 12 | SW 16 | W 11 | S 13 | W 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 10 | SW 13 | WSW 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 12 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 54 | 9 | 48 | 63 | 60 | 78 | 33 | 65 | 443 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | — | — | — | W 2 | WSW 4 | SW 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 138 | 245 | 326 | 385 | 233 | 176 | — | — | — | 1 | 28 | 69 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 31 | 19 | 180 | 197 | 140 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 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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