Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
21.4° C
0.1° 

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 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, S swell with 1,977 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with ENE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m 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 2.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 19th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 8s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 21st Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 16s
Most Powerful 5AM (Mon 24th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at Thompsons Bay, and for the first few days, it’s pretty grim. The wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, the swell is either too small or too messy, and the wave comment is "poor surf conditions" across the board. The combined energy is weak to moderate at best, with values like 250 and 340, which tells you there’s just no juice in the water. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is about normal for this time of year, so that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.

We’ve got a long gap here with nothing worth paddling out for until Saturday the 22nd of August. That morning, finally, we get a bit of a window. The wind swings light from the north, going cross-offshore, and the swell is a tiny 2 ft from the SSW with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is still low at 258, and the wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – scoring a 1 out of 10 internally. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first clean surface we’ve seen. The break is fairly consistent, and it’s sheltered, so that small, long-period groundswell might smooth out a bit. At this size, it’s fine for intermediates, but don’t expect much push.

After that Saturday morning window, it goes back to rubbish. The wind picks up again, and we get some lumpy, choppy conditions. The combined energy jumps up to 802 on Saturday afternoon, but it’s all cross-onshore and messy, so not worth it.

Sunday the 23rd of August morning has a 8 ft swell from the SSW, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore. The energy is strong at 2359, but the wave comment is "marginal surf forecast" – that’s a 1 out of 10. That’s too big for beginners and with that short period and onshore wind, it’s just a washing machine. For experts only, and even then, it’s ugly.

Monday the 24th of August morning has a 7 ft swell from the south with a 14-second period – that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is 1543, which is strong. But the wind is light cross-onshore, creating small wind ripples. The wave comment is still "marginal" and scores a 1. That afternoon, the swell drops to 5 ft, the period goes to 16 seconds – very long period – and the wind goes cross-shore. The energy is 1277. The wave comment improves to a 2, but it’s still described as marginal. With that long period, this is better for a point or reef break, but Thompsons Bay is sheltered. The long period might make the sets more powerful but also more spaced out, and the cross-shore wind will keep a bit of a chop on it. It’s the best we’ve got in the forecast, but that’s not saying much.

The rest of the week into early September is a mix of strong winds, short-period windswell, and cross-onshore conditions. The combined energy values are moderate to strong, but the quality just isn’t there. The last few days, we see some ENE swell with short periods, but the wind is always cross or cross-on, and the wave comment stays at "poor" or "marginal".

Look, the only real window here is Saturday the 22nd of August morning, and maybe Monday the 24th of August afternoon if you’re desperate. Neither is a standout. The setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on most days with that strong wind and lumpy chop. For a paddle surfer, you’re waiting for a better forecast.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed night, calm by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 37°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon morning).

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
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
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
3
1
2
3
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
E
9
0.8
SSW
14
1
SSW
14
2.5
SSW
8
1.7
S
8
1.1
SSW
16
1.4
SSW
14
1
SSW
13
0.8
SSW
11
0.5
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
2.5
S
10
2.5
SSW
10
1.9
S
10
1.9
S
13
2
S
14
1.6
S
16
1.4
S
17
1.5
S
15
1.2
S
14
1.1
S
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
121
233
431
792
373
636
743
350
173
113
734
1402
1480
785
1285
1527
1241
1147
1060
602
402
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
20
NE
30
SSW
35
SSW
20
S
5
NNW
20
ENE
20
NE
15
N
10
N
35
SSW
25
SSW
20
SSW
15
SSE
10
NW
10
ENE
15
NE
5
W
25
S
15
S
5
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
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
2:51PM1.52m
2:57AM1.60m
Low Tide
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
8:39AM0.40m
8:52PM0.40m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:18
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
 mm
Temp °C
22
22
20
20
20
19
20
20
19
31
37
20
20
20
18
20
21
19
20
20
19
Feels °C
20
19
21
14
16
19
18
17
18
29
33
14
16
17
18
18
20
20
18
18
20
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Thompsons Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Thompsons Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest