
Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 2 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 3 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 3 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 3,881 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s 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 Friday (Jul 03) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 03) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 3rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 3rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 3rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s going on at Thompsons Bay.
We’ve got a pretty messy start to the outlook, with a whole heap of days where the surf just isn’t worth the paddle. The first proper surfable pulse doesn’t show up until Friday afternoon July 3, and even then it’s only for the experienced crew. The swell hits 8 ft from the S with a solid 12-second period, but the kicker is the wind – it goes glass that afternoon. That’s rare, and it’ll turn the place into a mirror. Combined swell energy is strong at 2012, so there’s plenty of push. This is the standout window of the whole 16 days. Water temp is about average for the time of year.
The trouble is, Saturday morning July 4 brings a cross-on breeze and the swell jumps to 8 ft from the SSE at 13 seconds, but the wind messes it up. By afternoon on Saturday it’s cross-shore and messy. Sunday July 5 drops off fast – 6 ft but wind is already cross, and by afternoon the wind picks up to 15 km/h cross. The whole week after that is just poor conditions – tiny swell, short periods, wind chop – right through to Wednesday July 8 afternoon, which offers a brief clean moment with 3 ft from the ENE at only 9 seconds, but really not much to get excited about. The combined energy is weak at 244.
Thursday July 9 sees a spike in wind – 20 km/h cross – with 7 ft of short-period S swell at only 7 seconds, so it’s messy. Friday July 10 afternoon has a glassy window with 5 ft S swell at 13 seconds, combined energy 737, which is the second-best call but still nothing compared to that Friday glass session.
After that, it’s mostly poor or marginal through to Sunday July 12 afternoon, when a 8 ft S swell at a very long 17 seconds rolls in – combined energy 3258 – but it’s cross-on with rain, so the quality is questionable. That long-period groundswell will love a point or reef, but here at a sheltered bay it might just stack up straight.
Monday July 13 and Tuesday July 14 both have moderate energy but cross or cross-on winds keep it average. Swell directions shift to NE and ENE for a few days, but periods are short and wind is a problem. The final few days from July 15 onward are mostly small, windy, or both – not worth planning around.
The best bet by far is Friday afternoon July 3 – glassy, solid 8 ft S groundswell, and that’s as good as it gets. Saturday morning July 4 is a backup if you’re desperate, but the wind will be there. After that, you’re waiting a week for another half-decent glassy window on Friday July 10 afternoon.
No standout options beyond the first weekend. The second week is thin and unreliable. Still, with a fairly consistent setup like this, it won’t stay poor forever – forecasts can turn.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thu 9 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 12 | S 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3881 | 3395 | 1814 | 3246 | 2165 | 1530 | 1018 | 749 | 624 | 317 | 151 | 102 | 428 | 228 | 105 | 157 | 102 | 166 | 178 | 419 | 383 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | on |
High Tide | 5:27AM1.68m | 5:54PM1.68m | 5:59AM1.65m | 6:28PM1.66m | 6:33AM1.59m | 7:04PM1.63m | 7:11AM1.51m | 7:46PM1.58m | 7:57AM1.42m | 8:37PM1.52m | 8:56AM1.32m | 9:44PM1.46m | 10:18AM1.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:22PM0.30m | 11:39AM0.18m | 11:56PM0.33m | 12:11PM0.21m | 00:32AM0.36m | 12:45PM0.26m | 1:11AM0.42m | 1:23PM0.33m | 1:58AM0.48m | 2:08PM0.41m | 2:56AM0.55m | 3:07PM0.50m | 4:12AM0.59m | 4:26PM0.56m | |||||||
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | |
5:07 | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 15 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 14 | S 12 | S 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | ENE 6 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | S 12 |
1840 | 3395 | 1814 | 3246 | 2165 | 1530 | 1018 | 749 | 624 | 317 | 66 | 102 | 207 | 108 | 30 | 157 | 102 | 166 | 99 | 54 | 383 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | ENE 6 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 9 |
30 | 82 | 82 | 101 | 93 | 65 | 60 | 59 | 40 | 40 | 151 | 19 | 79 | 45 | 42 | 84 | 73 | 64 | 45 | 86 | 55 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | — | E 13 | E 12 | SW 10 | SW 20 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | ESE 11 | E 11 | S 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 16 | SSE 15 |
5 | — | 116 | 98 | 53 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 39 | 20 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | SW 3 | — | — | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 8 |
3881 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 124 | 145 | 91 | 428 | 228 | 105 | 4 | — | — | 178 | 419 | 294 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 37 | 0 | 258 | 48 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 39 | 87 | 42 |
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.











