J-Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.05° S 24.93° E

J-Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's J-Bay sea temperature is
13.9° C
5.0° 

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 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 4,891 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.7m and 7s is also forecast. 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sat 8th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Sat 8th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 2AM (Tue 11th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s break down this next stretch for J-Bay. It’s a proper mixed bag, so we gotta be patient.

Right now, the water is seriously cold. We’re talking a full 9° Fahrenheit colder than normal for this time of year. That's a big deal, so you'll need all the rubber you can get.

The immediate forecast is a bit of a bummer. There’s some decent size showing, but the wind is going to be a problem, blowing onshore and cross-onshore, making for messy conditions. Don’t get worked up about the big numbers just yet.

The first real window where you might find something clean is Saturday afternoon, the 16th. The swell has dropped to about 4ft, and the wind goes light and cross-offshore. It’s not big, but it will be clean. The energy is weak though, so it's more about getting a glide than getting barreled.

Then there’s a bit of a lull until Monday morning, the 18th. That’s when things start to look better. We’ve got a 5-6ft SW swell with a 13-second period, and a light offshore wind. It’s clean, it’s glassy, and J-Bay (Eastern Cape) will be showing its classic lines. This is looking like the pick of the first week.

The middle of the week gets messy again with the wind going easterly and onshore. We get a small reprieve from Friday the 22nd through Sunday the 24th with clean, cross-off conditions, but the swell is smaller, around 4ft. It’ll be rideable, but it’s not going to be a day to call in sick for.

Now, for the one to really get excited about. Looking way out to Friday the 29th, we’ve got a solid pulse of SW groundswell arriving. The morning looks clean with a cross-off breeze, and the swell is forecast at a solid 11-12ft with a 13-second period. The combined energy is strong. This is a proper J-Bay day. It'll be big, powerful, and walled-up. Expect a crowd, but for good reason. Saturday the 30th will still have plenty of size, but the wind looks uncertain and the period drops.

That Friday the 29th is the one to mark on the calendar. It’s a long way out, so we can’t be certain, but all the ingredients are there for a memorable session. The rest of the time, we’re just picking through the leftovers.

Alright, stay warm and keep your eyes on that forecast.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat morning, light winds from the SW by Mon morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Thu night).

Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
5
4
1
3
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
1
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SW
14
2.3
SW
13
3.5
SW
14
3.5
SW
13
3
SW
13
3
SW
12
3
SW
12
3
SSW
11
3.5
SSW
14
3
S
13
2
SSW
12
2.1
ESE
8
0.8
SSW
21
1
SSW
20
1.5
SSW
18
1.6
SW
16
1.9
SW
17
1.6
SW
16
1.4
SW
15
1.2
SW
15
2.3
E
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2462
1919
4616
3560
2702
2973
2107
2077
4891
3018
1098
555
559
790
1324
1271
2054
1314
930
614
686
Wind (km/h)
35
WSW
25
WSW
20
W
25
W
35
S
25
SSW
25
S
20
SSE
15
ESE
25
E
30
E
20
ENE
30
ENE
35
ENE
25
ENE
25
ENE
30
E
15
NE
10
NE
20
ENE
10
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
11:59AM1.09m
00:33AM1.28m
1:24PM1.24m
1:44AM1.41m
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
Low Tide
6:00PM0.57m
7:09AM0.43m
7:29PM0.44m
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
part cloud
clear
rain showers
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:46
5:47
5:49
 mm
3
7
6
7
3
2
4
1
Temp °C
17
16
14
12
13
14
14
14
13
14
15
14
15
19
14
17
21
16
20
23
19
Feels °C
12
11
11
7
7
8
8
8
9
10
10
8
8
12
8
12
15
10
17
19
16
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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