Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with 6,979 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period with ESE 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thompsons Bay in the next 16 days are 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's take a look at what's on the table for Thompsons Bay.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a real struggle. We're looking at a solid run of poor conditions from now, Tuesday the 4th of August, all the way through the end of the following week. The swell is there, but the wind is just wrecking everything. It’s a real shame, because there’s some serious energy in the water, starting with a moderate 539 (moderate wave energy) on Tuesday morning, and building into something truly massive by the 10th and 11th, with the combined energy reading over 7000 (strong wave energy). We’re talking 15ft of swell from the S/SW, with a long period of 13 seconds. But it’s all blown out by strong cross-shore winds. That amount of swell with that wind is not a paddle session; that’s a kite surfer's dream and a paddler's nightmare. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn't show up until Wednesday the 12th of August, but it's still a bit of a mess. The swell is still huge – 15ft from the S/SW with a very long period of 13 seconds – and the wind is still a fresh cross-shore, so you’ll have lumpy, choppy walls. It's a marginal call, but for a big-wave specialist, it might just be on.
The real standout, and the only window I’d get excited about, is a couple of days later on Thursday the 13th of August. The morning session is looking promising. The swell is still massive at 16ft from the S with a very long period of 14 seconds. Now, that’s a groundswell, and at a sheltered spot like Thompsons Bay, those long-period swells can wrap in and deliver some incredible, powerful lines. The combined energy is a staggering 18893 (very strong wave energy). The wind is a moderate cross-shore, which is the best we’ve seen in a while. It’s going to be a challenging, heavy day, and only for experienced surfers, but the quality of the swell could be something special. It’s the best on offer, by a long shot. After that, the swell starts to drop, but the wind remains a problem, so don't expect a clean run.
So, to sum it up: the next week is a write-off. Your only real chance for something decent is next Thursday the 13th, and that’s for the big-wave crew only. It’s a tough outlook, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 17°C on Fri morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SSW 17 | E 9 | SSW 14 | ENE 6 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 11 | NE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 532 | 520 | 427 | 192 | 197 | 184 | 154 | 120 | 166 | 109 | 105 | 111 | 410 | 229 | 267 | 116 | 311 | 393 | 301 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:40AM1.62m | 7:07PM1.69m | 7:18AM1.49m | 7:49PM1.56m | 8:05AM1.35m | 8:49PM1.41m | 9:22AM1.20m | 10:32PM1.30m | 11:42AM1.17m | 00:36AM1.35m | 1:26PM1.32m | 1:52AM1.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:40AM0.27m | 12:48PM0.22m | 1:19AM0.37m | 1:26PM0.34m | 2:06AM0.50m | 2:17PM0.49m | 3:16AM0.63m | 3:39PM0.64m | 5:15AM0.68m | 5:52PM0.66m | 7:06AM0.57m | 7:31PM0.52m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 5:23 | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 25 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 30 | 32 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 26 | 29 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | S 8 | S 11 | E 10 | S 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 532 | 520 | 427 | 192 | 197 | 184 | 154 | 120 | 122 | 109 | 83 | 83 | 141 | 229 | 267 | 92 | 22 | 41 | 301 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 11 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | E 10 | SSW 16 | S 9 | SSW 14 | S 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 41 | 17 | 16 | 83 | 24 | 18 | 45 | 27 | 22 | 27 | 105 | 68 | 52 | 89 | 144 | 60 | 36 | 12 | 173 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 11 | — | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | ENE 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | E 10 | SSW 14 | S 18 | — | — |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | — | 14 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 119 | 166 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 103 | 102 | 122 | 116 | 24 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 3 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | NE 6 | S 4 | — | NE 4 | ENE 6 | SSW 7 | — | — | NE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 32 | 58 | 38 | — | 64 | 9 | — | 10 | 111 | 410 | — | — | 86 | 311 | 393 | 238 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 9 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 471 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 118 | 19 | 776 | 0 | 25 | 2585 | 1393 |
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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