J-Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming down the line for J-Bay. The opening stretch is a bit of a write-off, so don’t get your hopes up too early. We’ve got a few days of messy, onshore slop to sit through, but once that cleaner weather kicks in, there’s some serious potential on the horizon.

The water temp is sitting around 64.9° right now, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing out of the ordinary.

Thursday, 30th July is a non-starter. The swell is there at 5.9ft from the SW, period 13 seconds, but the cross-on wind from the ENE is just ruining it. The wave energy is high (1499), but it’s a choppy, lumpy mess. Friday, 31st July is even worse. The wind is howling, and the swell is dropping. Best to leave the board in the car.

Saturday, 1st August is a complete washout. The swell jumps to 8.2ft, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected E swell (8 seconds). The wind is cross-on and the wave energy is moderate (1162), but the quality is just not there. Sunday, 2nd August is a step in the right direction. The swell drops to 6.9ft from the E, period 9 seconds, and the wind goes light cross-shore (1476). It’s still a bit junky, but it’s not a total loss.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday, 3rd August morning is the first real window. The swell drops to 5.2ft from the ESE, period 10 seconds, and the wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the WSW. The wave energy is moderate (1135), but the conditions are clean. That’s a solid session for any experienced surfer.

Tuesday, 4th August is a treat. The swell is 4.9ft from the SW, period 12 seconds, and the wind goes glassy in the morning. The wave energy is moderate (927), but the quality is excellent. The afternoon holds clean cross-offshore winds too. This is a standout.

Wednesday, 5th August is a tale of two sessions. The morning is a bit small at 3.0ft, but the swell is a very long-period 16 seconds from the SSW. That’s a proper groundswell, and with light cross-offshore winds (923), it’s clean. The afternoon, though, is a big swing. The swell jumps to 8.2ft from the SW, period 15 seconds, and the wave energy is strong (3100). The wind is cross-offshore, but it’s a moderate breeze. That’s a big, powerful swell that’s going to be breaking straight at the beach breaks – this one is for the experienced crew only.

Thursday, 6th August morning is another absolute gem. The swell is 8.2ft from the SW, period 14 seconds, and the wind is glassy. The wave energy is very strong (2676). The afternoon sees the swell pushing 9.8ft (3134) with a light cross wind. That’s a big day.

Friday, 7th August is the headline act. The morning is glassy, with a 9.8ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, and the wave energy is massive (3788). The wind is a light offshore from the NNW. This is the best of the best. The afternoon is still solid, but the wind comes onshore a touch (3288).

Saturday, 8th August and Sunday, 9th August keep the big swell going. Saturday sees 7.5ft to 8.2ft SW swell with cross-offshore winds (1990 to 2658). Sunday is bigger, with 9.8ft SW swell and strong energy (4268 to 4658), but the wind is fresher. These are days for the confident crew.

Monday, 10th August is a write-off. The wind is a gale from the WSW, and the swell is a massive 21.3ft from the ESE. The wave energy is extreme (11155), but it’s just raw, dangerous power. Not for paddling.

After the storm passes, Tuesday, 11th August morning is a gem. The swell drops to 8.2ft from the ESE, period 10 seconds, and the wind is dead calm – glassy. The wave energy is strong (1768). That’s a clean-up session.

The rest of the second week is a slow fade. Wednesday, 12th August has a 5.9ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period (2130), but the wind is cross-on. Not ideal. Thursday, 13th August is cleaner with 4.6ft to 4.3ft SW swell and cross-offshore winds (804 to 638). Friday, 14th August is small and clean, but the energy is weak (478 to 516).

The standout sessions are clearly Tuesday, 4th August morning and Friday, 7th August morning. The 4th is a classic J-Bay day: glassy, clean, and a solid 4.9ft SW groundswell. The 7th is the big one: 9.8ft, glassy, offshore, and a massive 3788 energy reading. That’s a day for the record books.

Stay safe

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