Thompsons Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 29.53° S 31.22° E

Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 21 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thompsons Bay sea temperature is
22.6° C
0.9° 

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 21 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, S swell with 1,631 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period with SE 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 22) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 16s. 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 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 12s
Best Surf 2AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 25th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's cookin' in the water.

Alright folks, it's a bit of a tough stretch ahead for Thompsons Bay. We're looking at a solid 16-day window, but honestly, the first week and a half is mostly a write-off. The swell is around, but the wind just won't play ball. We've got a long run from the 21st of July right through to the end of the month where the conditions are just messy. It's a lot of cross-shore and cross-onshore wind, anywhere from 9 to 25 mph, and that's just chopping everything up. The water temp is sitting at about 73°F with a water temperature anomaly of 2°F, which is pretty average for this time of year.

Even when there's some decent energy in the water, like on the 24th of July – we've got 10ft of swell coming from the south, but it's getting hammered by a fresh breeze, 22 mph onshore wind. That's not surf, that's a washing machine. The combined swell energy is strong (1711), but you'll spend the whole time trying to paddle through the chop. Not worth it. That setup on the 24th looks more like it'd be a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day, to be honest.

Now, after the first week of August, the picture starts to get a bit more interesting. The best bet, and the only real standout in this whole forecast, is the morning of Saturday, the 1st of August. We've got a clean 5ft swell from the SSW, with a long period of 17 seconds – that's proper groundswell, you'll feel the energy. The wind is a light to moderate NNE breeze, coming cross-offshore (1397). That's a clean look, fellas. It's not huge, but with that period and clean wind, it'll be the best wave quality we see. Just know that it's a fairly consistent spot, so there will be waves, and the crowds are listed as "sometimes," so you'll probably have some company.

That Friday the 31st of July and Monday the 3rd of August also see some bumps, but the wind is still cross-onshore, just lighter. There's potential there, especially on the 3rd with an 8ft swell from the East and a light 6 mph breeze, but the cross-onshore angle means it won't be as clean as that Saturday morning. That 8ft is getting into expert territory anyway. By the 5th of August, the wind swings back cross-shore and the swell holds at 7ft from the East with an 11-second period. It's marginal, but could be worth a check if you're desperate.

So, bottom line: suffer through the first ten days of messy onshore junk, then set your alarm for Saturday morning, 1st of August. That's your window.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the SW by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the ENE by Sun afternoon).

Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SE
12
1.2
SE
12
1.1
SE
12
1.8
NE
7
0.8
SE
12
0.7
SSW
14
2.2
SSW
6
3
SSW
9
2.5
S
10
1
SSW
16
1.5
SSE
9
1.4
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
0.9
SSW
13
1.8
ENE
6
1.5
ENE
7
1.7
NE
7
1.2
ENE
7
1.1
ENE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
442
403
319
298
167
192
363
1393
1203
568
329
301
218
257
218
218
271
148
115
Wind (km/h)
10
N
10
NE
25
NE
5
NNW
20
S
15
S
30
SW
40
SSW
25
S
5
WNW
10
E
15
ENE
10
N
25
NE
35
ENE
15
N
10
ENE
20
NE
5
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
glassy
High Tide
8:34PM1.40m
8:48AM1.22m
9:34PM1.27m
10:13AM1.12m
11:13PM1.20m
12:20PM1.12m
00:56AM1.24m
1:42PM1.22m
1:58AM1.34m
2:30PM1.34m
2:40AM1.46m
3:06PM1.47m
3:14AM1.57m
Low Tide
2:49AM0.64m
2:57PM0.64m
4:01AM0.73m
4:20PM0.74m
5:53AM0.74m
6:20PM0.75m
7:24AM0.66m
7:40PM0.66m
8:16AM0.54m
8:28PM0.54m
8:54AM0.41m
9:05PM0.43m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:45
6:45
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:19
5:20
 mm
1
Temp °C
20
21
23
20
21
21
19
19
19
19
18
18
17
19
21
18
19
22
20
Feels °C
20
19
20
19
19
19
19
12
13
15
17
16
15
15
15
13
17
19
18
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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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