Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, S swell with 1,088 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with S 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 1.3m 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here, and I gotta level with you – for Thompsons Bay, this forecast is a tough nut to crack. There's lots of ocean energy, but the quality and wind just aren't lining up.
We're looking at a 16-day window that kicks off with plenty of juice in the water, but it's messy. The first half-decent opportunity is tucked away at the end of the first week and the start of the second. The water temp is about 73°F to start, which is a bit warmer than usual for this time of year.
Right from Sunday, July 26th, we get a combined swell energy of 654 from the SE, with a 5ft wave, but it's got a cross wind at 12 mph from the NE. It's a total write-off. And that sets the tone. We get a strong energy reading of 897 on Wednesday the 29th, with a 7ft SW wind swell, but a 19 mph cross SW wind turns it into a lumpy, choppy mess. Not for paddling.
Your best real chance comes on Monday, August 3rd, in the morning. The combined energy rockets up to 1116 – that's very strong – with a solid 7ft ESE groundswell with a 10-second period. The wind is a light 6 mph cross from the ENE, keeping things reasonably clean. This is big, powerful surf, strictly for experts. For raw power, this is the standout, even if the wind isn't perfect for a sheltered spot like this.
After that, the size drops right off, and the energy fades through the middle of the week back into cross-shore chop. The last glimmer might be Friday, August 7th, morning, with a 6ft NE swell, but it's got a short, weak 7-second period. Just marginal.
Honestly, across the whole 16 days, there's no classic session. The energy is moderate to strong, often over 500, but the wind and swell direction never click for quality. The pick of the lot is that Monday, August 3rd morning for the serious power and light breeze. For the rest of it, a beach break like this looks more fun for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer given the messy conditions.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Thu night, strong winds from the S by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SE 9 | SSW 13 | S 16 | NE 6 | S 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 335 | 303 | 198 | 172 | 97 | 87 | 348 | 295 | 1088 | 566 | 742 | 617 | 508 | 404 | 293 | 286 | 311 | 507 | 623 | 726 | 833 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 2:30PM1.34m | 2:40AM1.46m | 3:06PM1.47m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:16AM0.54m | 8:28PM0.54m | 8:54AM0.41m | 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 | |||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 45 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 10 | SSW 13 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 335 | 211 | 76 | 96 | 59 | 87 | 348 | 295 | 174 | 83 | 115 | 617 | 508 | 404 | 293 | 71 | 102 | 52 | 623 | 726 | 833 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | S 14 | ENE 6 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 9 | SSW 13 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 312 | 303 | 115 | 120 | 97 | 19 | 41 | 45 | 67 | 165 | 111 | 81 | 81 | 145 | 167 | 158 | 40 | 34 | 75 | 62 | 59 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | — | S 16 | S 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | S 12 | — | — | E 9 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 10 | — | ESE 11 | — | SW 12 | E 11 | — |
| kJ | 7 | — | 198 | 82 | 40 | 86 | 11 | — | — | 83 | 53 | 193 | 165 | 60 | 70 | — | 43 | — | 39 | 63 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | SSW 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | SW 5 | — | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 32 | 104 | 172 | — | 64 | 106 | 134 | 1088 | 566 | 742 | 51 | — | — | — | 286 | 311 | 507 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 724 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 40 | 763 | 40 | 93 | 39 | 93 | 39 | 6 | 39 | 0 | 443 | 443 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
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.
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