Surf Forecasts:
J-Bay surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 6,017 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 12s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 1.3m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at J-Bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for J-Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what J-Bay has up its sleeve for the next couple of weeks.
This is looking like a blockbuster stretch for experienced surfers, with some epic, solid swells lining up. The water is sitting at 64°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.
The window kicks off on Saturday the 11th, but honestly, forget about it. We’ve got an 8ft SSW swell with onshore easterly wind... it’s a write-off with questionable tide conditions and weak overall energy (1957).
Things start to turn on Monday morning, the 13th. The wind is glassy from the NNW, and we’ve got a 7ft easterly swell rolling in. The period is short at 8 seconds, so the waves might be a bit crumbly, but the clean conditions and moderate energy (1292) make this a solid session for anyone intermediate to experienced. The crowds are sometimes an issue at J-Bay, but on a Monday morning, you might get lucky.
Tuesday morning the 14th is another glassy start, with a 5ft ESE swell. It’s not massive, but for a groomed, clean wave it’s a great option.
Now, for the real standout. Thursday the 16th is where the magic starts, but the true belt-holder is Friday the 24th. I’m talking about a massive *16ft swell* from the SW with a *17-second period* on Friday morning. That is an immense groundswell, carrying incredible energy (13,972). This is a wave for experts only—over 8ft and that period means it will unload with serious power, hitting the point perfectly. The wind is a crisp cross-off from the WSW, keeping the faces clean. Friday afternoon is even better for the look of it, with a 15ft swell and 16-second period. That's exceptional, world-class potential.
Before that, Wednesday the 22nd afternoon also grabs your attention: a 16ft WSW swell with a 14-second period. It gets a bit of a cross-on wind, but with that size and energy (9659), it’s still a major session for the bold.
After the 24th, the surf stays solid but the wind turns onshore on the 25th, making it messy. The run ends on Sunday the 26th morning with a glassy 7ft SW swell - a much cleaner, but smaller, way to finish.
If you’re an experienced surfer, Thursday the 16th and Friday the 24th are your dates. Circle them. For the everyday surfer, Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th mornings are your clean, manageable windows.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1949 | 1569 | 805 | 560 | 475 | 569 | 393 | 326 | 442 | 388 | 332 | 241 | 166 | 2963 | 3606 | 2952 | 2995 | 5932 | 4878 | 3234 | 2425 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 5:20PM1.72m | 5:32AM1.59m | 6:00PM1.69m | 6:10AM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:04AM0.00m | 11:31PM0.12m | 11:41AM0.04m | 00:12AM0.19m | 12:17PM0.12m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 |
 | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | 5:30 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 1949 | 1569 | 805 | 560 | 423 | 418 | 393 | 326 | 442 | 388 | 332 | 241 | 166 | 2963 | 3606 | 2952 | 96 | 72 | 4878 | 3234 | 2425 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 12 | SE 7 | SE 7 | W 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 11 | 155 | 194 | 10 | 296 | 222 | 130 | 65 | 60 | 32 | 53 | 92 | 137 | 149 | 123 | — | — | 71 | 48 | 1513 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SW 18 | WSW 12 | W 12 | SW 15 | W 11 | SSW 14 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 5 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 45 | 41 | 26 | 61 | 33 | 32 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 407 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 6 | — | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 6 | — | — | WSW 5 | SW 13 | SW 13 | — | — | E 10 |
| kJ | — | — | 209 | — | 475 | 569 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 36 | 120 | — | — | 45 | 2995 | 5932 | — | — | 48 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 19 | 19 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 142 | 3 | 0 | 197 |
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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