
Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 1,840 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
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 coming down the line for Thompsons Bay.
Right off the bat, the next week or so is pretty grim. We’ve got a solid run of poor conditions from the 30th of July right through the first week of August. The wind is stuck in a cross or cross-onshore pattern, mostly from the SSW, and it’s blowing fresh to strong. That’s making a mess of anything that tries to stand up. The swell is actually there – we’re looking at a strong wave energy in the thousands (up to 1843) on Sunday the 2nd of August, with a 10ft south-easterly groundswell pushing through around 11 seconds. But with that cross-wind, it’s just lumpy cross-chop. That Sunday is the closest we get to anything rideable in the first week, and it’s still only marginal.
Saturday the 1st is a little smaller, around 7ft to 8ft, but again, the wind is all over it. Not worth getting wet for. The swell direction is coming from the SSE and SE, which isn’t really the optimum for this sheltered spot – it likes it from the SE.
We then hit a lull. Monday the 3rd through to Friday the 7th of August sees the swell drop right off, with heights barely cracking 5ft and wave energy in the low hundreds. It’s pretty well flat, and the wind doesn’t give us a break. That’s a solid five-day gap with nothing to chase.
Now, hold onto your board, because around the 9th of August the ocean wakes up. The 10th of August, Monday morning, is a big one. We’ve got a massive 15ft south-southwesterly swell rolling in with a 12-second period. The wave energy is extreme, hitting 5639. That is a lot of water moving. However, the wind is still a fresh cross-shore from the SSW, making it lumpy. This is expert-only territory at that size. For the average punter, it’s a skip.
The real standout window hits on Tuesday the 11th of August. That morning, we’ve got a 10ft southerly swell with a very long period of 16 seconds. The wave energy is immense at 4227. And crucially, the wind is light from the east, just a cross-onshore breeze with small wind ripples. For a sheltered spot like Thompsons Bay, that’s about as good as it gets for a big groundswell. This long-period energy will wrap in nicely, giving clean, well-shaped lines. It’s going to be a proper session. Tuesday afternoon holds similar size and energy but the wind swings to a moderate cross-shore from the NE, so the morning window is the pick of the bunch. Wednesday the 12th is still solid at 7ft from the south, with a 14-second period and light winds, offering a good backup session.
After that big pulse, it fades quickly. Thursday the 13th sees the swell drop way down, and by Friday the 14th of August we’re back to small, poor conditions with a cross-wind.
So, for the best bet across this whole 16-day stretch: Tuesday the 11th of August, early morning. That 10ft southerly groundswell with the 16-second period, under light winds, is a true standout. It’s going to be clean, powerful, and lined up. Just be aware, with a long period swell on a beach setup, it might break a bit straight, but the quality of the energy should make up for it.
Also worth a mention is Sunday the 2nd of August morning. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best of the first week. A 10ft SE swell with a 11-second period and a gentle cross-shore breeze will at least offer some lumpy but rideable options for the keen.
Keep an eye on that Tuesday the 11th. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
505 | 908 | 1169 | 1215 | 1229 | 1107 | 820 | 760 | 1207 | 1542 | 1806 | 1429 | 836 | 661 | 500 | 402 | 226 | 180 | 302 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:13AM1.74m | 4:35PM1.78m | 4:41AM1.78m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:07PM0.25m | 10:22AM0.11m | 10:36PM0.20m | 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 | ||||||
— | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
5:21 | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | |
mm | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 20 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSW 15 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 7 |
505 | 231 | 65 | 156 | 145 | 66 | 820 | 760 | 1207 | 1542 | 1806 | 1429 | 836 | 661 | 500 | 402 | 226 | 180 | 158 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 10 | — | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SW 12 | SW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 |
79 | 61 | — | 18 | — | 90 | 42 | 14 | 18 | 39 | 31 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 42 | 35 | 16 | 98 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 13 | — | S 18 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 10 | E 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 |
181 | — | — | — | — | — | 48 | 21 | 45 | — | 6 | 15 | 13 | 22 | 25 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 6 |
71 | 908 | 1169 | 1215 | 1229 | 1107 | — | 539 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 38 | 17 | 56 | 302 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 368 | 443 | 87 | 277 | 941 | 1 | 39 | 178 | 0 | 6 | 39 | 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.










