Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, S swell with 3,128 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s 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 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Thompsons Bay over the next couple of weeks. I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty rough run. There’s not a single standout session in the whole sixteen-day window. We’ve got a lot of days with poor surf quality, strong winds that are messing things up, and conditions that just aren’t coming together for a good paddle. It’s one of those stretches where the forecast is a big fat blank for any decent waves.
Right from Monday the 24th of August, it’s a non-starter. We’ve got a weak 2.6ft swell from the SSE, period a lacklustre 9 seconds, and a cross wind from the ENE at 9.3 mph. The water’s sitting at 71.1°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The combined swell energy is a weak 198, and the report says it’s poor surf conditions. That sets the tone.
Tuesday the 25th has a slightly better combined energy of 493 in the morning, but the swell is still small at 3ft from the SSW, with a very long period of 16 seconds – that’s groundswell, which can make it tricky and straight at a beach setup like this. Wind is light cross-onshore, but the forecast is still marginal at best. Afternoon is more of the same, just a bit choppier.
Wednesday the 26th brings a bit more size in the afternoon, with 5.6ft from the S, a long period of 17 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1752, which is moderate. But the wind is onshore and it’s still rated as marginal. Not worth getting excited about.
From Thursday the 27th right through to the end of August, the swell gets bigger – up to 11.5ft on Saturday the 29th – but the wind is a mess. It’s all cross-shore from the NE, blowing at 21.7 to 28 mph, and the periods are short, around 8 seconds. That’s a recipe for lumpy, choppy, blown-out junk. The combined energy gets up into the strong range (up to 1754), but with that wind and short period, this is more of a kite-surfing show than anything you’d want to paddle into.
Early September rolls in and it’s just more of the same. The 1st of September has a slight improvement with a lighter cross wind and 4.9ft from the E, but the period is only 9 seconds and the combined energy is a modest 425. It’s still marginal. Then the wind swings to the SSW and gets into near gale force on the 3rd, with 34.2 mph winds. That’s just blown out.
The second week offers a bit more size, but no quality. On the 4th of September, we see 8.2ft from the S and 9.8ft from the SSE, with periods of 11 seconds and combined energy well over 2000. But the wind is strong cross-shore at 24.9 mph. At 9.8ft, that’s expert-only territory even in good conditions, and here the conditions are poor. The 5th and 6th of September have a little more promise with lighter winds and some cross-shore, but the swell is big (9.8ft) and the period drops back to 8 seconds, so it’s still not coming together. The last chance looks like the morning of the 8th of September, with 8.2ft from the ENE, period 9 seconds, and a light onshore wind. The combined energy is 1045, and it’s scored as marginal. It’s the best the whole forecast can offer, but that’s not saying much.
Honestly, for Thompsons Bay, this is a long stretch of poor options. If a break is fairly consistent, you’d hope for something, but the wind and swell angles just aren’t aligning. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d give it a miss.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Fri afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 9 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
106 | 146 | 421 | 387 | 669 | 504 | 1739 | 2837 | 1343 | 782 | 643 | 636 | 1299 | 875 | 898 | 1601 | 1368 | 1187 | 880 | 414 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:23PM1.35m | 2:28AM1.45m | 2:51PM1.52m | 2:57AM1.60m | 3:18PM1.67m | 3:24AM1.72m | 3:43PM1.81m | 3:50AM1.81m | 4:09PM1.91m | 4:17AM1.87m | 4:35PM1.97m | 4:44AM1.88m | 5:03PM1.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:22PM0.55m | 8:39AM0.40m | 8:52PM0.40m | 9:05AM0.25m | 9:19PM0.27m | 9:31AM0.13m | 9:46PM0.16m | 9:56AM0.03m | 10:13PM0.08m | 10:22AM-0.03m | 10:41PM0.04m | 10:48AM-0.04m | 11:09PM0.04m | |||||||
— | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 26 | 19 | 26 | 28 | 24 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 22 | 23 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 14 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 11 | ENE 10 | E 10 |
106 | 90 | 421 | 387 | 669 | 504 | 1739 | 2837 | 1343 | 782 | 643 | 365 | 236 | 181 | 269 | 153 | 72 | 25 | 880 | 414 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | ENE 5 | S 8 | S 18 | SE 9 | SSW 14 | E 8 | E 12 | — | S 17 | S 16 | — | S 16 | S 15 | — | — | S 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 12 |
82 | 12 | 68 | 235 | 21 | 250 | 6 | 11 | — | 204 | 85 | — | 20 | 113 | — | — | 2 | 24 | 12 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | S 17 | ENE 4 | SSE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 146 | 4 | 62 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 3 | NE 5 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSW 4 | S 7 |
4 | 22 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | 101 | 390 | 610 | 636 | 1299 | 875 | 898 | 1601 | 1368 | 1187 | 38 | 233 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 0 | 39 | 324 | 7 | 6 | 39 | 0 | 891 | 891 | 548 | 447 | 738 | 314 | 548 | 732 | 442 | 373 | 462 | 0 |
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.











