Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 18s period, S swell with 11,064 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with E 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 4.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here with the imperial rundown. Thompsons Bay has a tough 16-day forecast—no good surf now, and the first chance to paddle out doesn’t come until Thursday the 3rd, and even that’s a maybe. The water sits at 69°F, which is about 2°F cooler than normal for this time of year, so nothing wild.
Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd are a total dud: weak swell, cross or cross-onshore breeze, and wave energy between 139 and 565—just not worth suiting up.
Thursday the 3rd morning offers the first window: a 5ft NE swell with a short 7-second period, but clean cross-offshore wind from the N at 12 mph. Energy is moderate at 536, but it’s marginal—you might get a few, don’t expect much.
Friday the 4th is a mess—strong onshore winds and big swell up to 13ft (energy at 3380), but it’s blown to bits. Saturday the 5th morning, though, is your golden ticket. Glassy conditions, wind dead calm, and a 8ft SSE swell at 9 seconds. Moderate energy at 1111, clean faces, and the crowd factor says “sometimes,” so you might have to share. That’s the one.
Sunday the 6th through Monday the 7th go downhill fast. Sunday brings rain and 19 mph cross-onshore wind, chopping up 5ft to 7ft swell. Monday the 7th morning has a 12ft S groundswell at 16 seconds—energy a massive 6739—but cross wind from the NE at 9 mph and marginal conditions. That long period makes it tricky for a beach break; it’s more interesting for kiteboarding than paddling.
Tuesday the 8th to Thursday the 10th is all cross-shore wind and poor surf. From Friday the 11th onward, it’s small—3ft to 4ft swell—with onshore or cross-onshore breeze and energy under 200. There’s a lumpy 8ft on Saturday the 12th afternoon but with onshore wind, it’s messy. The second week is a write-off, with only a marginal window on Tuesday the 15th afternoon (6ft, light onshore, 588 energy).
So, Saturday the 5th morning is the only real standout. Get out early for glassy 8ft SSE swell. The rest is mostly a bust.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the SW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 8 | E 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 10 | SSE 11 | S 7 | S 19 | S 16 | S 15 | SSE 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 153 | 69 | 97 | 167 | 424 | 520 | 217 | 685 | 498 | 1220 | 3297 | 1559 | 904 | 525 | 369 | 622 | 456 | 5409 | 6674 | 3529 | 1308 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:01PM1.86m | 6:12AM1.67m | 6:34PM1.71m | 6:46AM1.52m | 7:13PM1.53m | 7:30AM1.33m | 8:09PM1.32m | 8:54AM1.15m | 10:29PM1.18m | 12:09PM1.17m | 00:53AM1.29m | 1:34PM1.39m | 1:53AM1.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:46AM0.06m | 00:10AM0.18m | 12:18PM0.18m | 00:45AM0.33m | 12:54PM0.35m | 1:28AM0.50m | 1:43PM0.55m | 2:38AM0.68m | 3:21PM0.74m | 5:23AM0.74m | 6:26PM0.71m | 7:14AM0.57m | 7:44PM0.51m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 7 | 2 | — | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 27 | 20 | 19 | 33 | 34 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 29 | 30 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | E 6 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 | SSW 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | S 19 | S 16 | S 15 | SSE 13 |
| kJ | 153 | 69 | 97 | 137 | 424 | 520 | 130 | 117 | 262 | 64 | 49 | 1559 | 904 | 525 | 275 | 239 | 133 | 5409 | 6674 | 3529 | 1308 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | E 5 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | ENE 8 | E 8 | SSW 14 | — | — | E 10 | S 15 | E 10 | E 10 | E 8 | E 10 | S 14 | S 14 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 |
| kJ | 11 | 20 | 38 | 167 | 116 | 52 | 189 | — | — | 48 | 17 | 53 | 92 | 185 | 369 | 36 | 36 | 80 | 65 | 43 | 32 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 10 | S 5 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | S 18 | S 15 | E 10 | S 12 | — | S 20 | E 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 35 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 25 | 115 | 52 | 112 | — | 30 | 85 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | ENE 5 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | NE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | SSE 11 | S 7 | SSE 8 | — | — | NE 5 |
| kJ | 7 | 39 | — | 12 | — | — | 217 | 685 | 498 | 1220 | 3297 | — | — | — | — | 622 | 456 | 592 | — | — | 134 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 13 | 0 | 117 | 6 | 0 | 258 | 324 | 277 | 1393 | 2587 | 741 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 172 | 1268 | 929 | 922 | 929 | 592 |
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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