Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down for Thompsons Bay. It’s a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, so keep your expectations in check.

There’s a gap of a few days before anything worth paddling for shows up. The first real chance is Saturday morning, July 18th. The swell is 4 feet from the SSW, with a very long period of 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The winds are light and cross-shore, so the surface is clean, just a few ripples. The combined energy is moderate, coming in at 1146, so there’s enough power for a decent ride. The water is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

The standout session is Sunday afternoon, July 19th. The swell holds at 5 feet from the S, with a 12-second period and light cross-offshore winds. That’s clean, lined-up surf with a good shape. The break is fairly consistent, but expect some company – crowds are possible. The energy is solid at 827, so it’s no fluke.

Now, Monday, July 20th brings a big pulse. The swell jumps to 13 feet in the morning and 15 feet in the afternoon from the S, with a period of 10 to 11 seconds. The combined energy rockets to 3601 and then 4936 – that’s strong, powerful stuff. But the winds are cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. At this size, it’s only for experts, and the conditions are rough. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

After that, the swell drops. Wednesday morning, July 22nd has a tiny 3-foot SSW swell with a super-long 16-second period, but only moderate energy at 1100. The winds are light and cross-shore, so it’s clean but small. The afternoon of the 22nd offers a better 6-foot SSE swell with a 13-second period and clean cross-offshore winds, but it’s still a marginal call.

From Thursday, July 23rd onward, it’s mostly poor. The wind turns nasty on Thursday afternoon with a fresh cross-onshore breeze at 22 mph, ruining a small 3-foot swell. The final week is a washout – light rain, strong winds, and tiny waves. The 27th of July has a brief, clean 5-foot ENE swell with a short 6-second period, which is surfable but very ordinary.

The best bet is Sunday afternoon, July 19th – clean, chest-high waves with a nice S pulse and offshore winds. That’s the one to aim for. The big Monday swell is for the brave or the kite crew. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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