Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, S swell with 1,434 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thompsons Bay in the next 16 days are 1.8m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 12th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s talk surf. Thompsons Bay is the only option we’ve got, and honestly, the next sixteen days are mostly a struggle. Most of the time, the conditions just aren’t coming together.
The first real chance comes on Sunday the 12th. It’s small but clean. We’ve got a 4ft south swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy out of the ESE. The water’s at 71°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. That’s the best of the whole period, but it’s not a standout.
After that, it’s messy. From Monday the 13th through Friday the 17th, the wind is mostly cross or cross-on and often too strong. Swell hangs around between 4ft and 7ft, but the quality is poor. The combined wave energy sits between 310 and 756, which is moderate, but the wind kills it.
Saturday the 18th shows a bit of hope. By the afternoon, a 5ft south swell arrives with a very long 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1403. That’s strong. The wind is light cross-shore, so it could clean up. But it’s still marginal. This long-period groundswell will work better at a point or reef, and Thompsons Bay is sheltered, so expect some tricky, walled-up waves.
Sunday the 19th is similar with a 5ft south swell, light offshore wind in the morning, but the wind turns onshore by the afternoon.
The rest of the second week is mostly poor. There’s a big spike in swell on Friday the 24th and again on Monday the 27th, with waves over 7ft and combined energy up to 1845. That’s very strong energy, but the wind is howling cross-shore at 18 mph or more. Those days are for experts only, and even then, the chop will be nasty.
Bottom line: Sunday the 12th is your best bet at Thompsons Bay. After that, it’s a waiting game. The surf is inconsistent and rarely good. For a sheltered spot like this, it’s not unusual to have long flat spells.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Sat morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | SSE 7 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 472 | 140 | 268 | 337 | 228 | 606 | 679 | 602 | 630 | 586 | 520 | 458 | 452 | 379 | 277 | 233 | 326 | 625 | 1129 | 1285 | 657 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:20PM1.52m | 2:42AM1.69m | 3:11PM1.66m | 3:30AM1.78m | 3:57PM1.79m | 4:13AM1.83m | 4:40PM1.87m | 4:53AM1.83m | 5:20PM1.90m | 5:31AM1.80m | 5:59PM1.87m | 6:07AM1.72m | 6:37PM1.80m | 6:43AM1.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:23PM0.33m | 8:58AM0.22m | 9:16PM0.21m | 9:42AM0.11m | 10:02PM0.14m | 10:23AM0.03m | 10:45PM0.11m | 11:02AM0.01m | 11:26PM0.14m | 11:39AM0.03m | 00:05AM0.20m | 12:15PM0.10m | 00:43AM0.30m | 12:50PM0.21m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 |
 | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | 5:15 |
mm | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSE 7 | ESE 7 | S 11 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 12 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 |
| kJ | 472 | 135 | 268 | 121 | 228 | 606 | 679 | 602 | 630 | 586 | 520 | 458 | 452 | 379 | 277 | 233 | 188 | 625 | 1129 | 1285 | 657 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 7 | S 11 | S 14 | SE 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSE 11 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 15 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 50 | 65 | 160 | 33 | 112 | 54 | 48 | 30 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 84 | 2 | 29 | 64 | 140 | 111 | 62 | 72 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 10 | — | S 20 | SE 11 | SSW 9 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 11 | S 10 | S 17 | SSW 14 | S 15 | E 9 | S 16 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | 140 | 62 | 2 | 133 | 8 | 29 | — | 7 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 326 | 159 | 111 | 5 | 58 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 8 | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | NE 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | — | — | E 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 337 | 12 | 18 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 22 | 29 | 71 | — | — | 52 | 127 | 128 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 40 | 42 | 0 | 172 | 721 | 277 | 39 | 42 | 68 | 258 |
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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