Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
21.8° 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 15 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, SSW swell with 1,974 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 2.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 15th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 11s
Best Surf 8AM (Wed 22nd Jul)7ft (2.2m) 15s
Most Powerful 8AM (Wed 22nd Jul)7ft (2.2m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Thompsons Bay.

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the start of this outlook is a bit of a slow grind. There’s no real stand-out surf for the first few days, but we’ve got a couple of windows where the conditions line up alright. The water’s sitting at 71°, which is bang on average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet is Thursday morning, the 16th of July. We’ve got a 5ft easterly swell pushing in, and the wind is glassy. That’s a major positive – clean, smooth conditions. The wave energy is moderate (538), and with a 10-second period, it’s a solid, workable wave. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’ll be fun on a log or a mid-length. Just be aware that on a Thursday, the crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so you might have a few others with the same idea.

Things get a bit more interesting on Sunday the 19th. The afternoon session looks like the pick of the week. The swell shifts to a 5ft south swell with a 12-second period, coming from the south-west. The wind turns cross-offshore, keeping the faces clean. The combined energy is strong (797), and it’s a proper groundswell – longer period, more punch, and better shaped waves. This is the best on offer in the first week. If you can get out there Sunday arvo, do it.

Now, we hit a bit of a flat spell or poor conditions from Monday the 20th right through to Wednesday the 22nd. The wind gets messy, and the swell drops. It’s not worth paddling out.

Then, on Wednesday the 22nd of July, we get a big pulse. The morning sees a 7ft south-southwest swell with a 14-second period. That’s a serious groundswell, and the energy is very strong (2108). But here’s the catch – the wind is cross-shore and a bit lumpy, which messes with the quality. It’s a bit of a gamble. The afternoon, however, cleans right up. The wind goes light and cross-offshore, and the swell drops to a still solid 5ft. The energy is still strong (1075). This is your standout for the whole outlook. That’s a proper, powerful wave with clean faces. It’s a long-period swell, which means it’s going to be better if you’re surfing a point or a reef – it might break a bit straight on a beachie, but the quality makes up for it. This is a Thursday, so you’ll have a chance to get some good ones.

After that, from Friday the 24th onward, the wind gets nasty. Strong onshore breezes and choppy, lumpy conditions take over. The swell hangs around, but the quality is poor. It’s a write-off for paddle surfing. Honestly, with that onshore wind and the beach setup, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than anything else.

So, to wrap it up: the best windows are Thursday morning the 16th for a clean, mellow session, and then Wednesday afternoon the 22nd for the real meat of the forecast. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
2
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
0
1
2
0
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
E
10
1.9
E
10
1.8
E
11
1.6
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.2
E
10
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
1
E
10
0.8
S
13
1.8
S
13
1.7
S
12
1.6
S
12
2.3
S
11
1.9
SSE
10
1.4
SSE
10
1.3
SSE
11
1.1
SE
11
1
SE
12
1.4
S
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
725
770
723
520
392
327
273
230
194
192
225
1077
827
699
1235
739
409
366
278
268
836
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
10
S
15
W
5
SE
10
E
10
NW
15
S
10
S
10
WNW
10
NE
15
NE
5
NNW
10
ENE
15
NNE
20
SW
15
SSW
10
E
15
N
20
SSW
10
SSW
10
NNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross
cross
off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
High Tide
4:40PM1.87m
4:53AM1.83m
5:20PM1.90m
5:31AM1.80m
5:59PM1.87m
6:07AM1.72m
6:37PM1.80m
6:43AM1.62m
7:13PM1.68m
7:19AM1.49m
7:51PM1.55m
7:58AM1.35m
8:34PM1.40m
Low Tide
10:23AM0.03m
10:45PM0.11m
11:02AM0.01m
11:26PM0.14m
11:39AM0.03m
00:05AM0.20m
12:15PM0.10m
00:43AM0.30m
12:50PM0.21m
1:20AM0.41m
1:27PM0.34m
2:01AM0.53m
2:06PM0.49m
2:49AM0.64m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:47
6:47
6:46
6:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:15
 mm
Temp °C
21
20
20
21
21
19
19
20
18
19
20
19
23
24
21
21
21
19
21
21
18
Feels °C
20
18
20
21
19
20
17
19
19
18
18
20
20
21
20
19
20
20
18
19
19
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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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