Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, SE swell with 2,005 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period with SE 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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Gonna level with you – the next sixteen days at Thompsons Bay are a proper grind. A whole lot of blown-out, messy surf, with just a couple of tiny windows that might be worth a paddle.
Right away, we’re dealing with a solid south-southeast swell running 7 to 8 ft, but a stiff 22 mph cross-breeze from the SSW is just tearing it apart. The wave energy is cooking at 1356 on Friday, but the surface is nothing but bump and lump. Useless. Saturday is the same story, just a little less wind. Water temp is 72°, which is normal for the season, so no surprises there.
The first real chance comes on Sunday, August 2nd morning. The swell is still a solid 8 ft from the SE, but the wind finally backs off to a gentle 9 mph cross-shore. The energy jumps to 1494, and the period is a solid 11 seconds, giving the waves some real push. The call is “marginal,” but it’s the best on offer in the first week. It’s a groundswell, so it’ll have shape, but at a beach break, it might be a bit straight.
Monday, August 3rd is a step down, with 7 ft of swell and lighter cross-onshore winds. Energy drops to 925. Still a marginal call.
Then it dries up. Tuesday through Thursday the swell dies to 3 ft or less, and the wind is either wrong or howling. The energy bottoms out at 217 on Wednesday morning. A real dead zone.
Friday, August 7th – this is the one. This is the standout. The swell is 7 ft from the south, but the wind is what makes it: a glassy 3 mph from the ENE. Dead calm. The wave energy is a massive 1688, and the period is a very long 14 seconds. This is proper, long-period groundswell. It’ll have power, but that long period can make a beach break a little close-outy. Still, glassy conditions and that much energy? That’s the session to chase. Get on it early, because the afternoon brings a 16 mph cross-breeze that will mess it up.
The second week is a mess. The wind is back up, with gusts over 25 mph, and the swell is just getting torn apart. There’s a moment on Thursday, August 13th afternoon with a 7 ft, 13-second south swell pumping 1913 energy, but it’s crossed up by a 16 mph wind. Just a tease.
So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, Sunday, August 2nd morning is your first shot, but Friday, August 7th morning is the real deal. Circle that date. For the rest of it, anything over 8 ft with a strong onshore wind is more for the kite surfers than us. Don’t force it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri morning, light winds from the WNW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1211 | 997 | 451 | 840 | 1055 | 1934 | 1464 | 1686 | 1385 | 883 | 739 | 480 | 419 | 348 | 193 | 122 | 141 | 108 | 87 | 488 | 716 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | cross | off | on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:03PM1.83m | 5:09AM1.80m | 5:32PM1.85m | 5:38AM1.77m | 6:01PM1.84m | 6:08AM1.71m | 6:32PM1.78m | 6:40AM1.62m | 7:07PM1.69m | 7:18AM1.49m | 7:49PM1.56m | 8:05AM1.35m | 8:49PM1.41m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:49AM0.07m | 11:06PM0.17m | 11:17AM0.05m | 11:35PM0.18m | 11:45AM0.07m | 00:07AM0.21m | 12:15PM0.13m | 00:40AM0.27m | 12:48PM0.22m | 1:19AM0.37m | 1:26PM0.34m | 2:06AM0.50m | 2:17PM0.49m | 3:16AM0.63m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 145 | 66 | 422 | 840 | 1055 | 1934 | 1464 | 1686 | 1385 | 883 | 739 | 480 | 419 | 348 | 193 | 122 | 141 | 98 | 69 | 90 | 716 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | — | 89 | 44 | 14 | 19 | 39 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 40 | 38 | 31 | 108 | 87 | 22 | 256 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | — | — | S 18 | S 14 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 10 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | — | E 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 25 | 21 | — | — | 6 | 33 | 12 | 25 | 50 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 40 | 9 | 29 | 85 | — | 85 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 2 | S 7 | — |
| kJ | 1211 | 997 | 451 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 43 | 69 | 17 | — | 5 | 1 | 488 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 897 | 941 | 25 | 39 | 169 | 0 | 22 | 87 | 0 | 6 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 776 | 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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