Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with 789 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with ENE 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here.
Honestly, the next week and a half is a write-off for Thomson’s Bay. We’ve got a solid run of days where the wind is just messy and the surf is junky. The first call worth paddling out for comes on the morning of Friday the 18th, but even then, it’s going to be a bit of a grunt. There’s a big pulse of SSW energy – we’re talking around 13ft at 10 seconds – with the combined energy hitting 2771, which is strong. But the NE breeze is cross-shore and bumpy, so don’t expect any kind of perfection. It’s more about the power than the polish. The swell direction is actually off from what this spot likes, too. It’s a day for the experienced lot only, and even then, you’ll be fighting the chop.
The real standout is the morning of Sunday the 20th. That’s the one. The swell eases a touch to 7ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 13 seconds and the direction comes around to the SE, which is basically perfect for this break. And here’s the big one: the wind is glassy. Completely dead. The combined energy is still pumping hard at 1932, and that combination of a long-period groundswell, directions matching what the bay wants, and flat-calm surface is about as good as it gets. The water’s a touch cooler than normal for this time of year, about 0.9° off the average at 69°, but that won’t matter when you’re getting one of those clean, lined-up ones. This is the pick of the fortnight, no doubt. The point will be holding that swell well, offering some proper walls.
After that, it fades quickly. By Monday the 21st, the swell drops off and the wind is back on it, so the window slams shut. The following week is looking inconsistent and weak, with mostly small, short-period leftovers and cross-shore breezes. It’s a case of getting out for that Sunday morning session and then resting up, because the ocean isn’t giving us much else for a while.
There is a bit of size on the Saturday (the 19th), with 13ft for the morning, but it’s cross-onshore and lumpy with a period of 12 seconds that will be breaking a bit straight at the beach. That’s more of a towing or kite session, unless you just want to get beaten up. Nah, I’d save your energy for the glassy Sunday.
Catch you in the water.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 411 | 444 | 355 | 299 | 655 | 507 | 468 | 474 | 341 | 225 | 207 | 160 | 125 | 99 | 335 | 246 | 318 | 434 | 178 | 192 | 603 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:20PM1.61m | 2:34AM1.65m | 2:57PM1.80m | 3:09AM1.78m | 3:30PM1.95m | 3:41AM1.87m | 4:00PM2.02m | 4:11AM1.90m | 4:29PM2.03m | 4:39AM1.89m | 4:56PM1.98m | 5:06AM1.84m | 5:22PM1.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:04AM0.37m | 8:28PM0.32m | 8:41AM0.18m | 9:05PM0.17m | 9:14AM0.04m | 9:37PM0.06m | 9:45AM-0.04m | 10:07PM0.01m | 10:14AM-0.07m | 10:36PM0.00m | 10:42AM-0.05m | 11:03PM0.04m | 11:09AM0.03m | 11:29PM0.13m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 18 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | ENE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 411 | 191 | 164 | 123 | 88 | 63 | 42 | 20 | 341 | 225 | 207 | 160 | 125 | 99 | 218 | 246 | 307 | 186 | 178 | 99 | 49 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | E 12 | SW 15 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | S 5 | SSW 12 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 18 | SSE 8 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSE 7 | — |
| kJ | 102 | 46 | 82 | 27 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 92 | 76 | 15 | 50 | 37 | 46 | 182 | 20 | 18 | 116 | 5 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 13 | — | S 16 | SW 17 | S 16 | SW 11 | S 14 | SSW 19 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | SSW 13 | SE 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 8 | SSW 11 | SSE 8 | S 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 30 | 57 | — | 5 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 11 | 6 | 35 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 33 | 37 | 6 | 15 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | SSW 5 | S 5 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 143 | 444 | 355 | 299 | 655 | 507 | 468 | 474 | — | 45 | 40 | — | 3 | 45 | 335 | — | 318 | 434 | 169 | 192 | 603 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 514 | 732 | 258 | 514 | 732 | 42 | 42 | 305 | 39 | 118 | 118 | 0 | 314 | 42 | 39 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 750 | 314 |
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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