Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with 3,547 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Thompsons Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thompsons Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day stretch for Thompsons Bay is a tough one. The water is sitting at about 71°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. But the surf? It’s a long grind of poor conditions. You’re looking at nearly a week and a half of cross-shore winds, choppy seas, and nothing that’s really going to get the heart pumping. The first decent window doesn’t open up until Wednesday the 2nd of September.
Up until then, it’s mostly a bust. Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd have some small, messy swell with cross-onshore winds. Sunday the 23rd sees a bit more size, around 8ft, but it’s lumpy and blown out. The whole week that follows is the same story – moderate to fresh breezes from the northeast, creating a nasty cross-chop. There’s a blip on Tuesday the 25th with a little 3ft SSE swell and an offshore wind, but the period is a massive 16 seconds, which is a very long groundswell. At a sheltered spot like Thompsons Bay, that long period will likely close out and be tricky. It’s a marginal call at best.
Now, the only real standout of the whole forecast is Wednesday the 2nd of September. The afternoon session is the one to circle. The swell is 7ft from the ENE, with a short period of 8 seconds – so it’s a windswell, not the cleanest groundswell, but the wind is what makes it. We’re getting a clean offshore breeze from the WNW. It’s the only time in the whole forecast when the wind is truly offshore and the conditions are expected to be good. That’s your moment. Get out there for the afternoon. It’s a bit of a wait, but it’s the only proper surf on the cards. Before that, it’s a long dry spell of choppy, blown-out disappointment.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, strong winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | S 13 | SSW 11 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 9 | S 10 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 17 | S 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 733 | 398 | 217 | 239 | 651 | 2143 | 972 | 901 | 369 | 173 | 94 | 103 | 198 | 441 | 574 | 470 | 2326 | 2836 | 1094 | 1137 | 2240 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:20AM1.10m | 9:26PM1.10m | 12:05PM1.03m | 00:56AM1.14m | 1:46PM1.18m | 1:54AM1.29m | 2:23PM1.35m | 2:28AM1.45m | 2:51PM1.52m | 2:57AM1.60m | 3:18PM1.67m | 3:24AM1.72m | 3:43PM1.81m | 3:50AM1.81m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:38PM0.79m | 4:44AM0.84m | 6:12PM0.85m | 7:29AM0.73m | 7:45PM0.71m | 8:10AM0.56m | 8:22PM0.55m | 8:39AM0.40m | 8:52PM0.40m | 9:05AM0.25m | 9:19PM0.27m | 9:31AM0.13m | 9:46PM0.16m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 28 | 34 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 20 | 25 | 31 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 11 | S 14 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | E 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 17 |
| kJ | 733 | 398 | 217 | 239 | 67 | 14 | 6 | 601 | 369 | 173 | 94 | 103 | 198 | 441 | 574 | 470 | 2326 | 2836 | 1094 | 734 | 2240 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 15 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | ENE 5 | S 9 | S 7 | E 8 | SSW 12 | E 9 | — | S 17 | S 17 | — |
| kJ | 21 | 21 | 46 | 11 | 375 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 93 | 77 | 13 | 54 | 51 | 6 | 109 | 6 | — | 826 | 1137 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | ENE 4 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 44 | 71 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 3 | — | NE 4 | SSW 14 | SSW 9 | S 10 | SSW 9 | — | NE 2 | ENE 4 | — | S 4 | — | SSW 3 | S 5 | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | NE 7 |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | 40 | 651 | 2143 | 972 | 901 | — | 1 | 13 | — | 8 | — | 3 | 45 | — | — | 38 | 253 | 315 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 19 | 324 | 368 | 39 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 39 | 42 | 7 | 118 | 1247 | 0 | 750 | 750 | 462 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Thompsons Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Thompsons Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Thompsons Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Thompsons 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 (Thompsons 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 Thompsons 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.
Thompsons Bay is 3 km (2 miles) from the city of Ballitoville. If you plan a holiday in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballitoville. Ballitoville has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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