Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
21.7°C
0.3° 

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 25 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, S swell with 3,325 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. 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 2.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Tue 25th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 16s
Best Surf11PM (Wed 26th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 17s
Most Powerful11PM (Wed 26th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Thompsons Bay is pretty much the only game in town on the local surf menu, but don’t get your hopes up yet. Over the next couple of weeks there’s barely a decent window to wet a board, and most of the run is full of messy cross-shore wind and poor-quality surf. If you’re patient, there’s one absolute standout right at the end of the outlook – but you’ll have to sit through a whole lot of average before you get there.

It kicks off on Tuesday the 25th of August with some weak energy – the combined swell energy is only 493 in the morning and 680 in the arvo, with a 3ft SSW swell at 16 seconds plus a persistent S/SSW cross-onshore. The water temp is sitting at 71°F, about average for the time of year. It’s choppy, it’s messy, and honestly, it’s a write-off. Wednesday the 26th isn’t much better – same 4ft to 6ft S swell, periods up to 18 seconds, but the cross-onshore keeps the surface grotty, and the rating never climbs above marginal. Thursday and Friday are just ugly: north-easterly winds cranking up to 28 mph, 5ft to 10ft of lumpy cross-chop, and the swell period drops to 8 seconds. That’s windswell territory and it’s not worth paddling out in. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th stay similar – the only half-interesting moment is Sunday morning with a 8ft ENE swell and light east-south-easterly onshore, but the score is still terrible. The start of September remains flat and frustrating: Monday the 31st sees a 4ft E swell with S cross-onshore, Tuesday is barely 3ft, and Wednesday the 2nd has a 7ft ENE swell but it’s mixed with a 7-second period – sloppy and uninspiring.

Now here’s where things change, and this is the highlight you’ve been waiting for. On Friday the 4th of September, early morning, Thompsons Bay turns on. The combined swell energy jumps to 1405 – moderate energy – but it’s the conditions that make it special: 11ft of S swell with a period of 8 seconds, glassy wind from the south at just 3 mph. That is clean, that is open, and the surf looks very good. The swell direction is a decent match for the optimum SE direction, although the period is a bit short for a groundswell – it’s more of a local pulse – but with offshore or glassy conditions like that, you’ll still find some punchy walls. This is your one true standout. Bear in mind: at 11ft, this is expert territory – not for beginners, and the crowds at Thompsons Bay can show up sometimes, so get in early. The arvo on the same day sees 14ft of S swell (10-second period) with an east-north-easterly cross-breeze, which is still rideable but not as crisp as the morning glass-off. Saturday the 5th of September offers similar 11ft S swell but with stronger cross-winds, and by Sunday the 6th the SSE swell starts dropping and the cross-on wind returns. Everything after that fades into mediocrity – 6ft to 4ft swell with lumpy north-easterly winds, and by the 9th of September you’re back to 28 mph south-westerlies and rain. Periods after the 8th are short and messy.

So the call is simple: if you’re keen, pencil in Friday the 4th of September, early. Everything else is a case of wait and watch.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, light winds from the N by Sun morning).

Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
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
3
3
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
S
18
1.9
S
18
2.5
S
16
1.9
S
14
1.6
S
13
1.3
S
13
2.1
ENE
8
3
ENE
8
2.4
ENE
8
2.3
ENE
8
3
ENE
8
2.5
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
9
1.9
ENE
9
1.8
SSW
7
1.2
E
9
2.3
S
7
1.8
S
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
421
387
669
901
2192
3103
1343
891
560
468
941
696
638
1226
943
1109
624
290
240
481
358
Wind (km/h)
15
S
20
SSW
10
SW
20
S
10
SSE
5
NE
35
NE
45
NE
30
NNE
30
NE
40
NE
25
NNE
30
NE
40
NE
15
NNE
10
ESE
25
SSW
10
SW
15
S
25
SSW
10
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
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
5:12AM1.86m
5:31PM1.95m
Low Tide
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
11:16AM-0.01m
11:39PM0.09m
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:16
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:36
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:38
 mm
3
1
Temp °C
20
20
20
20
20
20
21
20
19
24
26
21
24
26
23
26
22
20
21
21
20
Feels °C
18
17
19
18
18
20
16
13
13
20
20
16
19
19
17
24
20
18
20
19
19
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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