
Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 6 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, S swell with 2,508 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Monday (Jul 06) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m 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 2.4m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's coming up for Thompsons Bay over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I've got to be straight with you — the forecast is a bit of a mixed bag, and it's going to test your patience. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is about average for this time of year, so you won't be needing a thick wetsuit.
We've got a long wait ahead. The first few days are a write-off. Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th are flat out poor, with weak, messy, cross-shore winds and small, weak swell. Wednesday the 8th afternoon shows a tiny glimmer of life with a clean, cross-off breeze and a 1ft swell from the SW, but it's very ordinary and not worth paddling out for.
The real action, and the only true standout in this whole outlook, is late on Friday the 10th into the weekend. On Friday afternoon, we see a 8ft S swell with a very long period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 2318 (moderate to strong). Winds go light onshore, and the swell is pumping. This is a proper groundswell — long period, deep water energy. Just remember, that long period means it'll be a bit walled up and straight at a beach break, so it's better suited to the points or reefs. At 8ft, it's getting into expert territory, so beginners should stay out of the water. Saturday the 11th morning still has size at 5ft from the S, but the wind swings cross-on and it loses its magic.
After that, the consistency drops off. There's another pulse of swell on Monday the 13th, with an 8ft S swell at 14 seconds and a huge combined energy of 4059 (very strong), but the wind is onshore and the conditions are marginal. It's a big, powerful, messy wave. For the experts, there might be a session, but it won't be clean.
The rest of the second week is a struggle. We see more size on Wednesday the 15th — 12ft from the S — but it's a jumbled, cross-wind mess. By Friday the 17th, the swell drops and the wind comes back cross. Honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing through much of this period.
So, to sum it up: the best bet by a country mile is Friday the 10th afternoon. It's a big, long-period S swell with light winds. It's a proper power session for the experienced crew. Everything else is a gamble on clean conditions.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on the wind shifts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | SE 10 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
180 | 127 | 206 | 159 | 68 | 85 | 41 | 53 | 82 | 126 | 646 | 700 | 2012 | 2185 | 1327 | 865 | 712 | 432 | 344 | 639 | 161 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:46PM1.58m | 7:57AM1.42m | 8:37PM1.52m | 8:56AM1.32m | 9:44PM1.46m | 10:18AM1.25m | 11:09PM1.43m | 11:55AM1.27m | 00:36AM1.48m | 1:17PM1.37m | 1:46AM1.58m | 2:20PM1.52m | 2:42AM1.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:23PM0.33m | 1:58AM0.48m | 2:08PM0.41m | 2:56AM0.55m | 3:07PM0.50m | 4:12AM0.59m | 4:26PM0.56m | 5:42AM0.57m | 5:58PM0.54m | 7:03AM0.48m | 7:19PM0.45m | 8:06AM0.35m | 8:23PM0.33m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | SE 9 | ENE 6 | S 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | ESE 8 | SSW 11 |
180 | 127 | 82 | 83 | 60 | 85 | 20 | 31 | 59 | 39 | 646 | 700 | 2012 | 2185 | 1327 | 865 | 712 | 432 | 344 | 35 | 161 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ENE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 7 |
29 | 21 | 80 | 61 | 17 | 32 | 31 | 53 | 82 | 35 | 44 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 39 | 24 | 44 | 30 | 21 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | S 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SE 9 | SSW 15 | ESE 9 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | E 4 | — | E 8 | E 8 | NE 6 | E 8 |
37 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 42 | 41 | 17 | 14 | 126 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | — | 35 | 36 | 5 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 3 | — | ENE 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | S 6 |
83 | 30 | 206 | 159 | 68 | 3 | — | 19 | 29 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 639 | 130 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 37 | 0 | 42 | 37 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 40 | 0 | 39 | 941 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 118 | 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.










