Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 08 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
20.6°C
0.9° 

Thompsons Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with 789 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with ENE 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 10th Sep)6ft (1.9m) 8s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 10th Sep)6ft (1.9m) 8s
Most Powerful 8PM (Wed 9th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty here.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a write-off for Thomson’s Bay. We’ve got a solid run of days where the wind is just messy and the surf is junky. The first call worth paddling out for comes on the morning of Friday the 18th, but even then, it’s going to be a bit of a grunt. There’s a big pulse of SSW energy – we’re talking around 13ft at 10 seconds – with the combined energy hitting 2771, which is strong. But the NE breeze is cross-shore and bumpy, so don’t expect any kind of perfection. It’s more about the power than the polish. The swell direction is actually off from what this spot likes, too. It’s a day for the experienced lot only, and even then, you’ll be fighting the chop.

The real standout is the morning of Sunday the 20th. That’s the one. The swell eases a touch to 7ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 13 seconds and the direction comes around to the SE, which is basically perfect for this break. And here’s the big one: the wind is glassy. Completely dead. The combined energy is still pumping hard at 1932, and that combination of a long-period groundswell, directions matching what the bay wants, and flat-calm surface is about as good as it gets. The water’s a touch cooler than normal for this time of year, about 0.9° off the average at 69°, but that won’t matter when you’re getting one of those clean, lined-up ones. This is the pick of the fortnight, no doubt. The point will be holding that swell well, offering some proper walls.

After that, it fades quickly. By Monday the 21st, the swell drops off and the wind is back on it, so the window slams shut. The following week is looking inconsistent and weak, with mostly small, short-period leftovers and cross-shore breezes. It’s a case of getting out for that Sunday morning session and then resting up, because the ocean isn’t giving us much else for a while.

There is a bit of size on the Saturday (the 19th), with 13ft for the morning, but it’s cross-onshore and lumpy with a period of 12 seconds that will be breaking a bit straight at the beach. That’s more of a towing or kite session, unless you just want to get beaten up. Nah, I’d save your energy for the glassy Sunday.

Catch you in the water.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
S
12
2.2
ENE
7
1.9
ENE
7
1.8
ENE
7
2.5
ENE
7
2.1
ENE
8
1.9
ENE
8
2
ENE
8
1.6
ENE
8
1.2
E
9
1.1
E
9
1
E
9
0.9
E
9
0.8
E
9
1.9
ENE
7
1.5
ENE
8
1.7
ENE
8
1.9
ENE
8
1.2
ENE
8
1.4
ENE
7
2.4
ENE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
411
444
355
299
655
507
468
474
341
225
207
160
125
99
335
246
318
434
178
192
603
Wind (km/h)
30
NE
40
ENE
20
NNE
25
NE
35
NE
15
NNE
20
ENE
20
NE
25
SW
30
S
20
SSW
0
WNW
20
E
10
ENE
25
SW
20
E
20
NE
0
NW
25
ENE
45
NE
35
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
High Tide
2:20PM1.61m
2:34AM1.65m
2:57PM1.80m
3:09AM1.78m
3:30PM1.95m
3:41AM1.87m
4:00PM2.02m
4:11AM1.90m
4:29PM2.03m
4:39AM1.89m
4:56PM1.98m
5:06AM1.84m
5:22PM1.89m
Low Tide
8:04AM0.37m
8:28PM0.32m
8:41AM0.18m
9:05PM0.17m
9:14AM0.04m
9:37PM0.06m
9:45AM-0.04m
10:07PM0.01m
10:14AM-0.07m
10:36PM0.00m
10:42AM-0.05m
11:03PM0.04m
11:09AM0.03m
11:29PM0.13m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:56
5:56
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:43
5:44
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:45
 mm
Temp °C
22
22
19
23
24
20
25
24
22
21
21
21
22
22
21
23
23
21
25
22
22
Feels °C
18
16
14
19
19
16
22
21
22
18
19
21
20
22
24
22
22
22
22
16
17
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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