Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,375 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period with SSW 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 (Aug 09) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 0.6m 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at what’s on the cards for Thompsons Bay over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a long wait for anything decent.
For the first week, the outlook is pretty grim. We’ve got a big run of messy, wind-affected conditions. Sunday the 9th is a total write-off with small, weak swell and a cross-onshore breeze. That theme of poor surf just keeps rolling through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with the wind howling and the sea getting chopped up. Around Thursday the 13th morning, things clean up a little with a cross-offshore breeze, and the swell is chest-high at 6 ft from the ESE, but the energy is still weak (681). It’s marginal, but better than the rest of that week.
The real standout, and the only time I’d get excited, is on Sunday the 16th. That afternoon, we’ve got a glassy, clean ocean with a 6 ft easterly swell. The period is a solid 11 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell with some push. The water temp is about 71°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The wave energy is moderate (851). This is the best on offer – clean, lined up, and no wind to mess it up. It’s a sheltered spot, so expect it to be pretty good.
After that, the 18th has a quick window of glassy conditions in the afternoon, but the swell drops to 5 ft, so it’s smaller. Then we get smashed by strong winds and lumpy surf again.
Looking further out, the second week has a big pulse of swell around the 22nd of August. Saturday morning shows a solid 12 ft southerly swell with a very long 13-second period, and the energy is massive (4,728). That’s a lot of water moving. But the wind is a moderate cross-shore, which will mess it up. This is expert territory – over 8 ft, it’s not for the faint-hearted. The break is a beach-and-reef setup, and with that much swell and cross-shore wind, it’s going to be a challenge. Might even be more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfing.
To sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The best window is the late afternoon of the 16th, with clean glassy conditions. The 22nd has the size, but the wind is a problem. It’s a tough forecast, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sun morning, near gales from the SW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 117 | 135 | 263 | 2375 | 1945 | 1046 | 578 | 515 | 965 | 1060 | 1015 | 707 | 562 | 442 | 172 | 284 | 422 | 468 | 573 | 670 | 778 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:26PM1.32m | 1:52AM1.49m | 2:25PM1.53m | 2:43AM1.65m | 3:10PM1.72m | 3:24AM1.77m | 3:49PM1.88m | 4:01AM1.86m | 4:25PM1.97m | 4:35AM1.89m | 4:58PM2.00m | 5:07AM1.87m | 5:30PM1.97m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:31PM0.52m | 8:10AM0.39m | 8:30PM0.35m | 8:55AM0.22m | 9:16PM0.20m | 9:33AM0.07m | 9:55PM0.10m | 10:08AM-0.03m | 10:31PM0.05m | 10:41AM-0.07m | 11:04PM0.05m | 11:13AM-0.05m | 11:36PM0.10m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 117 | 118 | 60 | 45 | 43 | 71 | 116 | 366 | 965 | 1060 | 1015 | 707 | 562 | 442 | 172 | 284 | 45 | 468 | 573 | 670 | 778 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | — | — | S 14 | SSW 15 | E 9 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | E 9 | S 8 | SSW 17 | S 10 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | 78 | 135 | 12 | — | — | 16 | 71 | 106 | 515 | 266 | 102 | 82 | 82 | 52 | 142 | 48 | 54 | 7 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SE 8 | — | — | — | S 16 | SSW 11 | — | — | SSW 12 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | S 10 | SSW 18 | SW 12 | SW 15 | S 15 | S 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 60 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 12 | — | — | 117 | 5 | 17 | 37 | 63 | 65 | 61 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | ENE 3 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 21 | 263 | 2375 | 1945 | 1046 | 578 | 515 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 422 | — | — | 4 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 118 | 776 | 443 | 305 | 93 | 941 | 1276 | 462 | 922 | 941 | 6 | 22 | 93 | 0 | 6 | 39 | 0 | 41 | 117 | 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.
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