Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
21.2° C
0.2° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with 5,266 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period with E 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 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s 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 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 18th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 23rd Aug)8ft (2.5m) 14s
Most Powerful11AM (Sun 23rd Aug)13ft (4.0m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are a tough watch for Thompsons Bay. The overall pattern is dominated by messy, cross-onshore winds that just won't let up, ruining what could have been some alright swells. There's no standout day, and for the most part, it looks like it's going to be a write-off.

Water temps are sitting at 70.2°F, which is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year, nothing unusual.

We’ve got a blank run for the first week. From Tuesday the 18th through to Friday the 21st of August, it’s all poor surf conditions. Winds are either howling cross-onshore or just cross, making everything lumpy and choppy. You don't want to bother.

Saturday the 22nd of August morning offers a tiny light, but it’s the closest thing to a clean wave we’ll see. The swell is small, only 2.0ft from the south, but with a light cross-offshore wind from the NNW, the conditions will be clean. The energy is weak (212), but for a lonely early morning paddle, you might get a few soft lines. It's not a highlight, more of a "surfable" moment.

Sunday the 23rd of August morning brings a huge jump in size, with a 13.1ft SSW swell packing a massive energy punch (8298), but it's ruined by a fresh cross-onshore wind. Afternoon sees the size drop to 8.2ft from the south, with a long 15-second period, and the wind eases to a gentle cross-on. The surf is still marginal and fairly choppy. This is big, powerful groundswell, so if you're an expert, you might find some heaving walls, but it's going to be a battle.

The rest of the run through the end of August and into the start of September is more of the same. The wind stays cross or cross-on, and the surf is poor. Tuesday the 25th and Saturday the 29th have some size, but the conditions are never clean enough to make it worth calling a stand-out. It's just a constant fight against the chop.

Honestly, this looks more like a kite session than a surf session for most of the period. The wind is onshore or cross, and when the swell is up, the quality is down. There are no good surf options in the 16-day window. For Thompsons Bay, a blank run like this is pretty normal when the wind clocks around.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Tue morning). Mainly strong winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 36°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat night, light winds from the WNW by Sun night).

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
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
0
0
0
3
0
0
1
1
0
2
0
1
3
1
0
1
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
E
9
1
E
9
1
E
9
0.9
E
9
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
15
2.5
SSW
8
1.8
S
8
1.7
S
16
1.4
S
13
1
S
13
1.5
ENE
7
0.6
S
12
1.4
S
5
3.5
S
11
4
SSW
13
2.5
S
15
2.2
S
14
1.6
S
12
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
241
166
155
121
183
231
831
439
1398
704
334
198
113
98
2853
5266
3375
1762
775
456
284
Wind (km/h)
30
SSW
25
SSW
10
W
15
NE
20
NE
45
SSW
30
SSW
20
S
5
WNW
25
NE
30
NE
15
N
10
NNW
35
SSW
20
SSW
30
S
15
S
5
WNW
15
ENE
20
NE
5
WNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross
cross
glassy
High Tide
6:56PM1.59m
7:03AM1.42m
7:24PM1.42m
7:33AM1.26m
8:00PM1.25m
8:20AM1.10m
9:26PM1.10m
12:05PM1.03m
00:56AM1.14m
1:46PM1.18m
1:54AM1.29m
2:23PM1.35m
2:28AM1.45m
Low Tide
12:40PM0.29m
1:04AM0.44m
1:10PM0.46m
1:36AM0.59m
1:42PM0.63m
2:22AM0.74m
2:38PM0.79m
4:44AM0.84m
6:12PM0.85m
7:29AM0.73m
7:45PM0.71m
8:10AM0.56m
8:22PM0.55m
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:31
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:34
5:35
5:35
 mm
1
Temp °C
19
20
20
21
22
21
20
19
19
20
21
21
33
36
20
18
19
18
19
20
19
Feels °C
15
16
20
19
19
22
15
15
19
17
16
19
30
33
14
12
14
17
17
17
20
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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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