Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, NE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, SSW swell with 2,727 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period with NE 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 2.3m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s is also forecast. 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Thompsons Bay over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, mate, it’s a tough run. The forecast is pretty grim for the first week and a half, with a whole lot of poor surf conditions and barely a window to get excited about. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze your toes off if you do paddle out.
The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t come until Tuesday the 1st of September in the afternoon. It’s a small, glassy window with 4ft of swell from the east, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’ll be weak and a bit slow. The combined energy is only 189 (weak), so it’s more of a longboard or a foamy session than anything to write home about. It’s surfable, but barely.
After that, it’s back to poor conditions for days. You’ve got a few pulses of bigger swell – like 10ft on the 4th of September and 8ft on the 6th – but the wind is junk. On the 4th, it’s a moderate cross-onshore with choppy conditions, and on the 6th, it’s a moderate cross-shore with a cross-chop, combined energy hitting 2288 (strong) but the quality is just not there. If you’re an expert and desperate, you might find something on the 6th morning, but it’s a real long shot.
The only other marginal window pops up on Thursday the 10th of September afternoon. The wind is light and onshore, with 7ft of ENE swell at a short 7 seconds. It’s messy, but the combined energy is 466 (moderate). Not great, not terrible – just a bit of a messy gamble.
The rest of the run is a write-off: cross-shore winds, lumpy chop, and poor surf. This isn’t a spot that’s going to save you for a while. Keep the board waxed for a better forecast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 18°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the SSW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | S 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 6 | ENE 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 13 | S 11 | SSW 6 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 649 | 1087 | 1216 | 459 | 326 | 202 | 202 | 305 | 234 | 101 | 101 | 166 | 432 | 232 | 204 | 160 | 519 | 1975 | 1286 | 667 | 248 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:35PM1.97m | 4:44AM1.88m | 5:03PM1.99m | 5:12AM1.86m | 5:31PM1.95m | 5:41AM1.79m | 6:01PM1.86m | 6:12AM1.67m | 6:34PM1.71m | 6:46AM1.52m | 7:13PM1.53m | 7:30AM1.33m | 8:09PM1.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:22AM-0.03m | 10:41PM0.04m | 10:48AM-0.04m | 11:09PM0.04m | 11:16AM-0.01m | 11:39PM0.09m | 11:46AM0.06m | 00:10AM0.18m | 12:18PM0.18m | 00:45AM0.33m | 12:54PM0.35m | 1:28AM0.50m | 1:43PM0.55m | 2:38AM0.68m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 24 | 27 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 30 | 26 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 11 | ENE 7 | E 9 | S 16 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 243 | 187 | 739 | 352 | 326 | 202 | 202 | 305 | 234 | 101 | 74 | 166 | 94 | 154 | 70 | 160 | 51 | 38 | 188 | 667 | 248 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 6 | S 6 | S 9 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | NE 5 | — | S 19 | E 10 | SSW 15 | S 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 101 | 25 | 23 | 97 | 30 | 41 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 37 | 79 | 191 | 204 | 23 | — | 28 | 31 | 172 | 98 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 10 | SE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSW 9 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 7 | NE 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | — | SSW 18 | NE 7 | E 10 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 8 | 17 | 28 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 45 | 55 | 37 | 41 | — | 65 | 2 | 30 | 141 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 6 | SE 5 | — | NE 3 | ENE 5 | E 6 | — | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | — | — | SSW 6 | S 10 | SSE 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 649 | 1087 | 1216 | 459 | 307 | 32 | 30 | — | 3 | 39 | 101 | — | 432 | 232 | — | — | 519 | 1975 | 1286 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 442 | 495 | 0 | 314 | 368 | 0 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 82 | 277 | 39 | 0 | 42 | 38 | 941 | 1264 | 1296 | 42 |
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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