Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 10 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
22.0° C
0.1° 

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 11 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, S swell with 1,419 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period with S 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 6s 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 2.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sat 11th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Sat 11th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 11th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s

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


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for Thompsons Bay over the next couple of weeks.

The outlook starts quiet, but there’s a bit of a wait. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t pop up until Tuesday the 14th of July. Before that, we’ve got a few days of marginal to poor conditions with a messy cross-onshore breeze and a weak, short-period swell that just won’t clean up. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Tuesday afternoon is the first window that looks worth paddling out. The wind drops to glassy, calm conditions, and we’ll see a 5ft swell from the SE with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (753), and it’s set to be clean. It’s not a huge swell, but with zero wind, it’ll be smooth and fun for an intermediate surfer.

Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th stay in the marginal zone. The swell hangs around 5ft to 5ft from the ESE, but light cross-onshore breezes keep the surface a little rippled. It’s surfable, but nothing to get too excited about. The combined energy drops off a bit, sitting around 400-500.

Then we hit a bit of a flat spell from Friday the 17th through the weekend. Friday sees a fresh cross-onshore breeze and a dropping swell, making for lumpy, choppy conditions. Not great.

Saturday the 18th is interesting. A new S swell arrives with a longer 15-second period, pushing 5ft to 6ft, and combined energy climbs back up to 1170 and 1363. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy but not terrible. The long period means better-shaped waves, but it might break a bit straight on the beach. Worth a look for the more experienced crew.

Sunday the 19th is a mixed bag. The morning shows an 8ft S swell with a 14-second period – that’s serious energy (2659). But a moderate cross-shore breeze will put a chop on it. This is only for experts; 8ft is too big for most. By the afternoon, a fresh breeze makes it lumpy. Not ideal.

Monday the 20th is a step down, with a 6ft SSE swell, still with a decent 13-second period, and a gentle cross-shore breeze. Combined energy is high (1713). It’s marginal, but the wind is light, so there could be a few clean ones if you’re picky.

The standout, and I mean the real standout, is Tuesday the 21st of July morning. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the ENE, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit fat and crumbly. The magic is the wind: glassy, calm, zero wind. Combined energy is moderate (798). It’s going to be clean and smooth, a proper session for the intermediate crowd. The afternoon turns messy again with a moderate cross-shore.

After that, the wind really picks up from Wednesday the 22nd through Thursday the 23rd. Strong, fresh breezes blow out any shape, with a mix of SSW and S swells that have long periods but are just too windy. The 3ft to 5ft range is there, but it’s gonna be lumpy and messy. Thursday the 23rd morning has a clean cross-offshore wind and a 3ft South swell with a very long 21-second period. It’s small, but the clean conditions and long period will make for some fun, hollow little waves – best on a point or reef if you can find one.

The final days of the outlook, from Friday the 24th to Sunday the 26th, are a write-off. A 10ft ENE swell on Friday afternoon is pure wind-chop, and the mixed SW swells over the weekend come with onshore winds. Not worth it.

So, here’s the bottom line: your best bet is Tuesday afternoon the 14th for a glassy, clean session on a modest swell, or Tuesday morning the 21st for the same glassy conditions on a slightly bigger, but shorter-period, swell. The 18th and 19th are for the brave with big boards and a strong paddle. The 23rd morning is a sneaky good one for a small, clean, long-period wave.

Signing off, Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Fri
17
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
0
1
1
0
0
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
0
2
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.8
S
13
1.6
S
13
1.4
S
12
1.3
S
12
1.2
SSE
7
0.8
S
11
1.6
ESE
8
1.6
E
8
1.3
E
8
1.4
SE
9
1.6
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.4
E
10
1.4
ESE
10
1.4
ESE
10
1.2
E
10
1.2
E
10
1
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1632
1103
1087
851
584
480
137
160
291
302
219
323
412
459
397
361
394
435
284
273
190
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
15
SSW
15
S
10
WSW
15
S
5
E
5
WNW
10
ENE
15
E
10
NNW
10
SSE
0
ENE
10
WNW
10
ENE
10
NE
10
WSW
10
S
15
S
10
WSW
25
SSW
30
SSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
on
glassy
off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
00:36AM1.48m
1:17PM1.37m
1:46AM1.58m
2:20PM1.52m
2:42AM1.69m
3:11PM1.66m
3:30AM1.78m
3:57PM1.79m
4:13AM1.83m
4:40PM1.87m
4:53AM1.83m
5:20PM1.90m
5:31AM1.80m
5:59PM1.87m
Low Tide
7:03AM0.48m
7:19PM0.45m
8:06AM0.35m
8:23PM0.33m
8:58AM0.22m
9:16PM0.21m
9:42AM0.11m
10:02PM0.14m
10:23AM0.03m
10:45PM0.11m
11:02AM0.01m
11:26PM0.14m
11:39AM0.03m
rain showers
cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:10
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:14
 mm
7
1
4
1
1
Temp °C
19
19
19
18
18
18
17
19
20
20
19
19
18
21
22
19
20
20
20
19
19
Feels °C
18
17
17
18
16
17
17
18
18
20
19
19
19
20
20
20
19
18
20
15
14
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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