Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with 2,261 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 15s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thompsons Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – this forecast stretch is pretty bleak. For the next 16 days, I just can't see a day where everything clicks. There's swell on the charts, but the winds keep messing it up. You might get a paddle here or there, but nothing to get excited about.
Starting Wednesday, the 19th, there's a small 0.5 foot SSW swell, but a cross-shore breeze makes it a washout. Water temps are sitting right around 71°, nothing out of the ordinary.
Thursday the 20th is bigger—that swell jumps to 8 feet—but it’s short-period stuff and the cross-onshore wind is going to make it a lumpy, choppy mess. That's expert-only territory, and even then it's not fun.
Friday the 21st drops back to around 4-5 feet with a longer 14-second period, but there's still a side wind putting a chop on it. It's marginal at best. Saturday the 22nd gives us a small window in the morning, with a tiny 2-2 foot swell and light offshore wind—that’ll be the cleanest it gets. But it’s tiny, and by the afternoon the wind is screaming at 25 mph from the side. Not worth much.
After that, we've got a real run of poor form. Sunday the 23rd brings a solid 7-8 foot SSW swell, but it's all over the place, and it's a big, messy wave. Monday onwards, there's still swell, but wind and conditions are consistently poor. A couple of afternoons on the 24th and 25th the wind eases off, but it's still not clean.
The end of August brings a shift to ENE windswell with short periods, and the wind is mostly side or onshore. On the 30th and 31st, we see the swell build back up to around 8 feet, with moderate to strong energy, but it's bumpy and cross-chop. Definitely a kite-surfing window more than a paddling one.
Finally, the first few days of September finish up the period with some smaller east swell, but winds stay onshore or cross-onshore. We're looking at a solid blank stretch here, fellas. It happens. You just gotta be patient and wait for the next system to turn things around.
Until next time, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 37°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat night, calm by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 11 | ENE 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 17 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 17 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 233 | 437 | 816 | 398 | 882 | 836 | 395 | 209 | 116 | 966 | 2261 | 1037 | 487 | 377 | 352 | 404 | 154 | 350 | 679 | 869 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross | off | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:24PM1.42m | 7:33AM1.26m | 8:00PM1.25m | 8:20AM1.10m | 9:26PM1.10m | 12:05PM1.03m | 00:56AM1.14m | 1:46PM1.18m | 1:54AM1.29m | 2:23PM1.35m | 2:28AM1.45m | 2:51PM1.52m | 2:57AM1.60m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:36AM0.59m | 1:42PM0.63m | 2:22AM0.74m | 2:38PM0.79m | 4:44AM0.84m | 6:12PM0.85m | 7:29AM0.73m | 7:45PM0.71m | 8:10AM0.56m | 8:22PM0.55m | 8:39AM0.40m | 8:52PM0.40m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 30 | 37 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 28 | 33 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 17 |
| kJ | 89 | 151 | 34 | 102 | 882 | 836 | 395 | 209 | 116 | 82 | 17 | 588 | 313 | 377 | 352 | 404 | 68 | 350 | 679 | 869 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | E 8 | S 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 10 | S 16 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 16 | S 17 | SSE 9 | S 21 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 233 | 172 | 16 | 34 | 160 | 20 | 21 | 12 | 68 | 186 | — | 98 | 85 | 13 | 6 | 51 | 154 | 80 | 144 | 225 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | E 8 | — | NE 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | S 18 | E 9 | SSW 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 111 | — | 2 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 13 | — | 6 | 6 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | SSW 14 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | E 3 | NE 4 | ENE 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 25 | 437 | 816 | 398 | — | — | 5 | 29 | 115 | 966 | 2261 | 1037 | 487 | — | — | 4 | 6 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 19 | 314 | 169 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 891 | 324 | 277 | 39 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 39 | 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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