Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 18s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, S swell with 3,308 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s 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 (Aug 24) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thompsons Bay in the next 16 days are 2.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Thompsons Bay has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you from the get-go: it’s a rough stretch. The forecast is a real mixed bag of onshore slop, strong winds, and messy conditions, with only a couple of brief windows that might be worth a paddle.
The water temp is sitting at about 70°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no worries there.
The first real chance to get wet doesn't come until Wednesday morning, September 2nd. We’ve got a bit of a clean-up happening with a light NNE breeze, which is offshore for this sheltered spot, and a 6ft swell from the ENE. The swell period is a short 8 seconds, so it won't be a groundswell with heaps of grunt, but the combined energy is moderate, sitting at 544. The wind is light and offshore, so conditions should be clean. This is the best of a rough bunch, but don't expect perfection.
Then, things go straight back to being average. The next glimmer of hope comes on Monday morning, September 7th. We’ll see a 5ft south swell with a longer 12-second period, which is a proper groundswell. The wind is a light WSW, which is cross-offshore, and the forecast says "clean." The combined energy is moderate at 587. This is another okay option, but nothing to write home about. The longer period will mean better shaped waves, but it might be a bit walled up at this beach break.
The standout, if you can call it that, is that Wednesday morning on the 2nd. The offshore wind and clean conditions make it the pick of the litter. Crowds are "sometimes" a thing here, so you might have a few others with the same idea. For the rest of the period, it's mostly a write-off with strong onshore winds and messy, choppy seas. Keep an eye on the forecast, but I’d be looking elsewhere for a proper session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Thu morning, strong winds from the NE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 17 | S 17 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 165 | 106 | 146 | 421 | 387 | 669 | 386 | 1359 | 3308 | 1443 | 1032 | 637 | 566 | 1226 | 753 | 876 | 1444 | 1294 | 1283 | 1064 | 601 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | off | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:23PM1.35m | 2:28AM1.45m | 2:51PM1.52m | 2:57AM1.60m | 3:18PM1.67m | 3:24AM1.72m | 3:43PM1.81m | 3:50AM1.81m | 4:09PM1.91m | 4:17AM1.87m | 4:35PM1.97m | 4:44AM1.88m | 5:03PM1.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:10AM0.56m | 8:22PM0.55m | 8:39AM0.40m | 8:52PM0.40m | 9:05AM0.25m | 9:19PM0.27m | 9:31AM0.13m | 9:46PM0.16m | 9:56AM0.03m | 10:13PM0.08m | 10:22AM-0.03m | 10:41PM0.04m | 10:48AM-0.04m | 11:09PM0.04m | |||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 28 | 30 | 26 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 11 | ENE 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 165 | 106 | 90 | 421 | 387 | 669 | 192 | 1359 | 3308 | 1443 | 1032 | 563 | 371 | 292 | 181 | 324 | 206 | 103 | 41 | 1064 | 499 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | ENE 5 | SSE 8 | S 18 | SE 9 | S 17 | E 9 | SE 12 | SE 6 | — | S 16 | — | S 16 | S 15 | SW 11 | — | — | — | SE 13 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 133 | 82 | 12 | 47 | 235 | 13 | 386 | 6 | 6 | 54 | — | 84 | — | 20 | 116 | 31 | — | — | — | 7 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | S 17 | ENE 4 | SSE 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 146 | 4 | 45 | 3 | 3 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 3 | NE 5 | — | — | SSW 4 | S 4 | — | — | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSW 4 | S 8 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 21 | — | — | 35 | 10 | — | — | 134 | 458 | 637 | 566 | 1226 | 753 | 876 | 1444 | 1294 | 1283 | 40 | 601 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 42 | 0 | 277 | 19 | 40 | 6 | 39 | 0 | 891 | 776 | 495 | 592 | 897 | 314 | 592 | 741 | 261 | 721 | 277 | 1 |
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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