Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with 1,616 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 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 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. 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 3.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s be honest. The outlook is a complete bust. There’s not a single good session in the whole 16-day window. The first faint glimmer of something rideable doesn’t show up until Tuesday the 15th of September, and even that’s a stretch. It’s a dry spell, and it’s not uncommon for this spot.
The water at Thompsons Bay is 69°, which is about 2° cooler than usual for the season, so nothing wild.
The wind is the real story, and it’s a bad one. It’s almost always cross or cross-onshore, often blowing 20-30 mph, and gusting much harder. The swell is around, but it’s all chopped up and lumpy.
The only day that even gets a mention is Tuesday the 15th of September afternoon. The wind drops to a light breeze from the east at 6 mph, still cross-onshore, and the swell is 6 ft from the east at 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 489, and it’s called “marginal.” That’s the best of a bad bunch, and it’s still not clean. The break is sheltered, so a light wind can help, but that cross-onshore angle isn’t doing any favours.
Beyond that, it’s a mess. Monday the 14th of September shows 12 ft of swell from the ENE with a 7-second period and a near gale cross-shore. The combined energy hits 1651, which is strong, but it’s just a washing machine. Thursday the 17th of September has 10 ft from the south with a fresh cross-onshore. It’s all the same pattern: lots of energy, but no quality. There’s no standout, no clean glass, and no reason to get wet. The forecast might change, but right now, it’s a hard pass.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, near gales from the NE by Mon afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 18 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 655 | 539 | 384 | 462 | 439 | 194 | 176 | 160 | 125 | 96 | 160 | 249 | 300 | 348 | 709 | 1543 | 1476 | 517 | 463 | 702 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 5:32AM1.74m | 5:47PM1.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:35AM0.14m | 11:54PM0.24m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 14 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 90 | 63 | 42 | 20 | 350 | 194 | 176 | 160 | 125 | 96 | 160 | 83 | 283 | 266 | 125 | 106 | 1046 | 517 | 463 | 421 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 16 | SW 15 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 8 | S 8 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 13 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 97 | 81 | 30 | 17 | 85 | 84 | 103 | 32 | 21 | 15 | 2 | 58 | 49 | 26 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 19 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 |
| kJ | 11 | 4 | 21 | 7 | 37 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 29 | 28 | 40 | 249 | 33 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | — | — | E 4 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 655 | 539 | 384 | 462 | 439 | 94 | 85 | — | — | 6 | — | 25 | 300 | 348 | 709 | 1543 | 1476 | — | — | 702 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 732 | 0 | 346 | 277 | 0 | 277 | 324 | 0 | 42 | 1264 | 0 | 42 | 941 | 776 | 522 | 307 | 19 | 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.
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