Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SE swell with 1,610 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore 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 (Aug 18) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here.
Let’s be straight with you – Thompsons Bay is in for a rough run. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty average for getting wet. We’ve got a solid south-easterly swell trying to push in, but the wind is just not playing ball at all. This break is a sheltered little spot best with a south-easterly swell, but the wind is going to be all over the shop, mainly cross, which means messy, lumpy conditions. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.
The first real chance of anything decent comes on Thursday the 13th of August. The morning is still a bit dodgy with a light cross-onshore and the swell dropping to 6ft, but by Thursday afternoon it’s glassy. The wave energy is moderate (462), and we’ve got 5ft of surf coming from the ESE. That’s the standout window – clean, glassy surf, and the swell is small enough for most intermediates. It won’t be big, but it’ll be the best you’ll get.
After that, it’s a long slog. Friday the 14th morning is marginal with 5ft waves and a light cross breeze, but the wind picks up and the quality drops. Through the weekend, the swell bumps up a bit, reaching 6ft from the east with a longer period around 11-12 seconds, which is a bit more groundswell energy. But the problem is the wind – it stays cross or cross-onshore, keeping the surface messy. The score is poor for most of these sessions. From Monday the 17th, we see the swell consistently drop, and the wave energy falls into the weak 200-400 range.
We then hit a real quiet patch. From around the 18th of August right through to the 26th, it’s a whole lot of nothing. The swell stays under 5ft, and the wind is often strong and cross, making it look more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one. There’s a brief moment on the morning of Saturday the 22nd where the swell is 8ft from the NE – that’s a big jump for this spot, but it’s coming from a short period (8 seconds) and the wind is cross, so it’ll be a lumpy, messy high-energy wave (1222). That’s a big, ugly, short-period windswell – not for the faint-hearted.
Honestly, if you’re keen, keep your eyes on the Thursday the 13th of August afternoon glass-off. The rest of the 16-day window looks like a write-off for decent surf. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a lean patch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 12 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1528 | 827 | 694 | 1111 | 1297 | 1037 | 802 | 486 | 351 | 262 | 291 | 424 | 959 | 914 | 939 | 785 | 676 | 651 | 467 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:43AM1.65m | 3:10PM1.72m | 3:24AM1.77m | 3:49PM1.88m | 4:01AM1.86m | 4:25PM1.97m | 4:35AM1.89m | 4:58PM2.00m | 5:07AM1.87m | 5:30PM1.97m | 5:38AM1.81m | 6:00PM1.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:30PM0.35m | 8:55AM0.22m | 9:16PM0.20m | 9:33AM0.07m | 9:55PM0.10m | 10:08AM-0.03m | 10:31PM0.05m | 10:41AM-0.07m | 11:04PM0.05m | 11:13AM-0.05m | 11:36PM0.10m | 11:43AM0.03m | 00:06AM0.19m | ||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 5:28 | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | 12 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 10 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 12 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 |
| kJ | 57 | 233 | 161 | 374 | 1297 | 1037 | 802 | 486 | 351 | 262 | 291 | 424 | 959 | 914 | 939 | 785 | 676 | 651 | 467 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 8 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | SSE 6 | S 11 | S 11 |
| kJ | 5 | 70 | 215 | 192 | 119 | 100 | 47 | 114 | 74 | 132 | 104 | 15 | 7 | 21 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 11 | E 10 | — | S 26 | S 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | E 11 | SSW 20 | S 10 | S 8 | SW 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SW 14 | S 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | — | 23 | 89 | — | 13 | 19 | 65 | 36 | 37 | 128 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | — | NNE 3 | — | — | NNE 3 | — | NE 4 |
| kJ | 1528 | 827 | 694 | 1111 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | — | 12 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 258 | 741 | 178 | 93 | 768 | 941 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 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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