
Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, E swell with 1,596 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. 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 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
Gotta be straight with you – the next week or so is looking pretty grim for Thompsons Bay. We're stuck with a cross-shore wind pattern that just won't let up. That combined swell energy is all over the shop, much of it moderate to strong, but it's not translating into anything clean. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Starting Tuesday the 28th of July, we've got a storm risk and rainy showers with a moderate breeze. Swell comes in around 3ft to 7ft from the SSW and S, but the period is all over the place – a very long 18 seconds on Tuesday morning dropping to a short 6 seconds in the afternoon. The wind is cross-on or cross, so it's choppy. Nothing worth paddling out for.
Wednesday the 29th through to Friday the 31st is more of the same: height builds to 8ft from S and SSE, but it's all cross-shore wind in a moderate to strong breeze. The wave comment is "poor surf conditions" across the board. The swell energy is strong, but with the wind demolishing it, there's no joy.
Saturday the 1st of August is the first time we see a slight improvement. The wind swings onshore from the ESE and eases to a light breeze. Swell is around 7ft to 7ft from the ESE with a 9 to 10 second period. The conditions are described as "fairly choppy" on Saturday morning. This is marginal at best.
Sunday the 2nd of August is actually the standout window in this entire outlook. The morning shows clear skies, a light breeze from the NE (6 mph) with a cross-shore wind. Swell is 7ft from the E with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is strong. The wind description is "light cross-shore with small crossing wind ripples," which is about the cleanest it's going to get. This session has the best chance for some workable waves. By Sunday afternoon, the wind picks up to 16 mph, so aim for that morning session. The break is fairly consistent and can get crowded sometimes, which tells you it's a quality spot when it's on.
Monday the 3rd of August falls back away with a moderate cross-shore breeze. Tuesday the 4th is the same. After that, we hit a real lull. From Wednesday the 5th of August onward, the swell drops significantly to 3ft to 3ft. The energy falls into the weak category.
One slight spark: Wednesday afternoon the 5th of August. The wind goes glassy, and the swell is tiny at 3ft from the ESE with a 9-second period. It's "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," so it’s a longboard or handplane kind of session only.
Moving into the second week, the first real promise comes on the 10th of August Monday, but the swell jumps to 10ft from the ENE with a 9-second period and a very strong combined energy. That’s powerful, but it’s coupled with a fresh cross-shore breeze. That’s not for anyone but experienced surfers, and even then, it's lumpy. Tuesday the 11th of August morning shares the best wind setup of the late period: a cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 16 mph with a clean water surface. Swell is 6ft from the E with a 10-second period and strong energy. That window is definitely promising, but being that far out, the forecast is less certain.
All in all, your best bet is the morning of Sunday the 2nd of August at Thompsons Bay. Get it before the crowds do. Tuesday morning the 11th of August is a long-range promise that could come through.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 47mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon night, min 15°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue morning, strong winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Thu night, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | S 6 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
87 | 438 | 312 | 963 | 773 | 673 | 724 | 646 | 919 | 987 | 671 | 486 | 484 | 703 | 749 | 430 | 973 | 1596 | 1096 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:14AM1.57m | 3:37PM1.59m | 3:44AM1.67m | 4:07PM1.69m | 4:13AM1.74m | 4:35PM1.78m | 4:41AM1.78m | 5:03PM1.83m | 5:09AM1.80m | 5:32PM1.85m | 5:38AM1.77m | 6:01PM1.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:05PM0.43m | 9:25AM0.29m | 9:37PM0.33m | 9:54AM0.19m | 10:07PM0.25m | 10:22AM0.11m | 10:36PM0.20m | 10:49AM0.07m | 11:06PM0.17m | 11:17AM0.05m | 11:35PM0.18m | 11:45AM0.07m | 00:07AM0.21m | ||||||
— | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
5:20 | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 9 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 15 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 |
20 | 438 | 266 | 174 | 103 | 108 | 566 | 231 | 64 | 156 | 397 | 486 | 484 | 703 | 749 | 430 | 973 | 1596 | 1096 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSW 14 | SE 10 | SE 9 | S 11 | S 13 |
87 | 41 | 45 | 67 | 165 | 158 | 108 | 79 | — | — | 147 | 67 | 165 | 262 | 19 | 327 | 135 | 21 | 56 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 12 | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 15 | E 9 | — | — | — | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | — | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 14 | SW 15 |
86 | 12 | — | — | — | 113 | 181 | 85 | — | — | — | 92 | 85 | 42 | — | 16 | 10 | 36 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
45 | 78 | 312 | 963 | 773 | 673 | 724 | 646 | 919 | 987 | 671 | 351 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 40 | 87 | 941 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 368 | 368 | 87 | 93 | 87 | 0 | 39 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










