Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Issued: 1 am 07 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
21.9° C

Normal for this time of year

Thompsons Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, S swell with 3,138 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period with NE 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 (Jul 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Tue 7th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 7s
Best Surf 8PM (Fri 10th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 15s
Most Powerful 5PM (Fri 10th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, let’s talk Thompsons Bay. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, with a slow start and a few windows that could get the heart pumping if you play your cards right. The water’s sitting at a normal 71° for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days—Tuesday the 7th through Thursday the 9th—are a write-off. Tiny, weak, messy cross-shore junk. Nothing doing. Then Friday the 10th rolls in with a solid push of S swell, 7 ft on the morning, period 15 seconds, and the energy ramps up hard (2079). Problem is, it’s onshore from the SE, so it’s a bit lumpy. The afternoon gets even bigger—8 ft, 16-second groundswell, energy spiking to 3175—but still onshore, though only a light 3 mph. It’s marginal, but for a sheltered spot like this, that’s a lot of water moving. Not for beginners—over 8 ft is expert territory. Saturday the 11th drops a bit but stays onshore and messy. Sunday the 12th gets blown out by SW winds.

Then comes the real standout: Wednesday the 15th afternoon. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell is a solid 7 ft from the SSW, period 9 seconds. The energy is strong (1175), and the conditions are about as clean as it gets for this break. That’s the pick of the fortnight—if you can get out, it’ll be worth it. The swell direction isn’t the ideal SE, but when it’s glassy and holding 7 ft, you don’t complain.

After that, it goes downhill again. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th are blown out with strong winds. Saturday the 18th has a little SSW groundswell but short period, marginal. Sunday the 19th sees another big S pulse (8 ft, 1379 energy) but cross-onshore and choppy. Monday the 20th has 8 ft S swell but fresh cross-winds. Then Tuesday the 21st is a bit lighter but still marginal.

Finally, Wednesday the 22nd morning brings a monster: 15 ft from the SSW, period 12 seconds, energy shooting up to 9967. That’s a serious swell, but it’s onshore from the SSE, and the score is still marginal. Only for the most experienced, and even then the wind might ruin it. The afternoon drops to 8 ft but gets choppy again.

So in short: the first week is mostly a waste, the one clean window is Wednesday the 15th afternoon, and the second week has some size but wind issues. If you’re willing to wait, the 15th is your best bet—glassy, solid, and clean. Otherwise, keep an eye on the long-range for the 22nd, but it’s a gamble.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
3
3
2
1
1
0
0
2
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
NE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.3
SSW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
15
1.5
S
14
1.6
S
13
2.1
S
15
2.5
S
16
2.1
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.6
S
13
1.5
S
13
1.6
S
7
1.6
S
12
1.3
SSE
9
2
SE
9
1.9
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
159
70
68
41
53
84
179
874
919
2039
3138
1832
1155
878
749
271
699
289
664
550
427
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
10
NE
15
WSW
10
NE
10
NE
15
WSW
10
S
10
S
5
WSW
10
SE
5
SE
5
WSW
5
ENE
5
ESE
15
SW
20
SW
25
S
10
W
15
S
15
S
10
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
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
3:11PM1.66m
3:30AM1.78m
Low Tide
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
8:58AM0.22m
9:16PM0.21m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:50
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:09
5:09
5:10
5:10
5:12
5:12
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
23
24
22
22
22
21
20
20
19
20
20
20
20
20
19
20
20
19
19
19
19
Feels °C
19
19
20
18
18
19
18
18
19
20
19
21
20
18
19
17
16
18
17
17
19
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
ENE
7
0.5
SE
10
0.9
ENE
7
0.5
ENE
6
0.4
SE
9
0.8
ENE
6
0.7
S
5
1.5
S
14
1.6
S
13
2.1
S
15
2.5
S
16
2.1
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.6
S
13
1.5
S
13
0.9
SSW
12
1.6
S
12
1.3
SSE
9
2
SE
9
1.9
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
Energy kJ
77
47
68
20
31
47
29
874
919
2039
3138
1832
1155
878
749
271
699
289
664
550
427
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SE
10
0.3
E
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SSW
15
0.6
ENE
8
0.5
E
9
0.6
E
8
0.5
E
8
0.5
E
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
E
9
0.4
E
8
0.7
SE
8
0.7
SSW
11
0.6
S
11
0.7
SSW
10
Energy kJ
61
17
32
31
53
84
55
39
52
33
30
19
20
24
28
24
22
65
123
85
110
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
E
10
0.2
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
E
10
0.3
SE
9
0.6
SSW
15
0.2
ESE
9
0.1
SE
15
0.1
SE
14
0.1
SE
13
0.1
SE
13
0.3
E
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.5
E
8
0.6
SSW
11
0.1
NE
6
0.2
SSE
11
0.2
S
14
Energy kJ
18
21
42
41
17
14
179
8
8
7
7
6
13
26
36
100
1
12
15
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
NE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.4
SSW
3
0.7
NE
6
0.9
SSW
4
0.9
SSW
5
1.6
S
7
Energy kJ
159
70
3
34
28
50
219
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
3
4
3
4
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
Distance (km)
42
37
0
116
66
37
6
40
0
40
39
0
12
42
6
39
118
0
6
39
0
Best forecast wave conditions in KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
7
9
8
9
7
7
6
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
9
9
7
5
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Thompsons Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Thompsons Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest