Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 1,356 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 2AM. 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 (Mon 31st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s see what’s on the cards for Thompsons Bay. It’s a bit of a mixed bag through this forecast window, and to be honest, there’s a fair stretch of nothing much to get excited about.
We’re looking at a sheltered spot, and for the first week or so, the wind is a real pain. From Friday the 28th of August right through to the end of the month, it’s mostly a fresh to strong cross-shore breeze from the northeast, kicking up a lumpy, messy cross-chop. The swell is there – between 4 ft and 10 ft – but that wind is just ruining it. The combined wave energy is moderate to strong (872 to 1377), but it’s all chop and no shape. Not worth paddling out for.
We get a bit of a breather on Monday the 31st morning with a cleaner cross-off wind and 4 ft of east swell, but the energy is weak (311) and it’s likely pretty weak.
Now, Tuesday the 1st of September brings a glimmer. The morning is glassy – a slight air from the southeast at just 3 mph – and there’s 4 ft of east swell. The combined energy is moderate (369). It’s surfable, but the conditions are very ordinary. It’s the best we’ve seen so far, but it’s a one-star day, not a standout.
Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon is actually promising. The wind goes light and cross-off from the west-southwest, 3 ft of south-southwest swell with a very long period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (569) and conditions will be clean. That long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely at a sheltered spot like this, favouring a cleaner line. This is a genuine bright spot.
Then things go a bit wild. Friday the 4th of September morning sees a serious pulse of swell hit: 15 ft of southeast groundswell with a 12-second period. The combined wave energy is very strong (4945). But the wind is a light cross from the east-northeast and there’s rain showers. For experienced surfers only – 15 ft is serious, expert territory. The afternoon gets messy as the wind picks up. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September are all blown out with strong winds and big, lumpy 12 ft to 10 ft swell. That’s a kite-surfing kind of setup, not for a paddle board.
After that, it drops off. From the 7th of September onwards, the swell fades and the wind stays onshore or cross-shore, giving us poor, choppy conditions right through to the end of the forecast on the 12th of September. There’s one last pulse of 10 ft on the 12th morning, but it’s blown out.
Honestly, the pick of the bunch is that Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon session. It’s not huge, but with clean conditions and a decent long-period groundswell, it’ll be the most enjoyable wave of the whole run. The big Friday the 4th morning swell is there for the brave, but it’s a big ask.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, strong winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | S 13 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
757 | 455 | 742 | 600 | 600 | 1190 | 785 | 406 | 363 | 240 | 246 | 226 | 164 | 252 | 257 | 407 | 257 | 675 | 386 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:50AM1.81m | 4:09PM1.91m | 4:17AM1.87m | 4:35PM1.97m | 4:44AM1.88m | 5:03PM1.99m | 5:12AM1.86m | 5:31PM1.95m | 5:41AM1.79m | 6:01PM1.86m | 6:12AM1.67m | 6:34PM1.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:46PM0.16m | 9:56AM0.03m | 10:13PM0.08m | 10:22AM-0.03m | 10:41PM0.04m | 10:48AM-0.04m | 11:09PM0.04m | 11:16AM-0.01m | 11:39PM0.09m | 11:46AM0.06m | 00:10AM0.18m | 12:18PM0.18m | 00:45AM0.33m | ||||||
— | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
5:37 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 18 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 13 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 14 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 |
757 | 455 | 353 | 184 | 243 | 187 | 101 | 406 | 363 | 240 | 246 | 226 | 164 | 99 | 6 | 20 | 257 | 116 | 50 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 16 | S 15 | — | — | SW 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSW 10 | SSE 10 | SW 12 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 14 | E 8 | SSW 20 |
— | — | 86 | 163 | — | — | 4 | 41 | 24 | 80 | 53 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 81 | 68 | 218 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SSW 12 | S 11 | — | — | — | NE 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 18 | 28 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 7 | — | SE 6 | S 7 | E 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | S 3 | SSW 8 | S 8 |
374 | 417 | 742 | 600 | 600 | 1190 | 785 | 119 | 148 | 126 | — | 39 | 102 | 252 | 257 | 407 | 5 | 675 | 386 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 314 | 471 | 514 | 314 | 447 | 741 | 66 | 118 | 471 | 0 | 25 | 891 | 39 | 0 | 732 | 261 | 174 | 897 | 39 |
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.











