
Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, S swell with 2,547 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 2.4m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk Thompsons Bay for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow burn – the first several days are pretty flat and messy, but if you’re patient, there’s a couple of real windows that could deliver. The water's sitting at 71.6°F right now, about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first few days – from Thursday July 9th through Sunday July 12th – are mostly a write-off. Swell energy is weak to moderate (273 to 1064) but the wind is cross-onshore, making things choppy and poor. The Friday morning on the 10th has a 7.2ft S swell with a 15-second period, but the wind is onshore and the conditions are marginal – not worth paddling out for. Saturday and Sunday stay messy.
Monday 13th morning sees a glassy window with a light SE wind, but the swell is only 3ft from the south, period 11 seconds. Surfable but ordinary – you’ll be scratching for waves. The rest of that week stays marginal, with swells building from the east-southeast through Wednesday 15th (6.2ft, 10s) but cross-on wind keeps it average. Thursday 16th and Friday 17th are poor again with fresh cross-shore wind.
Then, on Sunday
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 15 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
179 | 1016 | 787 | 2204 | 2218 | 1483 | 987 | 835 | 1057 | 584 | 480 | 179 | 202 | 276 | 294 | 205 | 474 | 688 | 706 | 625 | 616 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | on | on | off | cross-on | cross | off |
High Tide | 10:18AM1.25m | 11:09PM1.43m | 11:55AM1.27m | 00:36AM1.48m | 1:17PM1.37m | 1:46AM1.58m | 2:20PM1.52m | 2:42AM1.69m | 3:11PM1.66m | 3:30AM1.78m | 3:57PM1.79m | 4:13AM1.83m | 4:40PM1.87m | 4:53AM1.83m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:26PM0.56m | 5:42AM0.57m | 5:58PM0.54m | 7:03AM0.48m | 7:19PM0.45m | 8:06AM0.35m | 8:23PM0.33m | 8:58AM0.22m | 9:16PM0.21m | 9:42AM0.11m | 10:02PM0.14m | 10:23AM0.03m | 10:45PM0.11m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 7 | ESE 7 | SSW 11 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
59 | 1016 | 787 | 2204 | 2218 | 1483 | 987 | 835 | 1057 | 584 | 480 | 111 | 142 | 167 | 294 | 205 | 474 | 688 | 706 | 625 | 616 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | S 11 | S 14 | S 11 | SE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSE 8 |
179 | 40 | 36 | 30 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 30 | 76 | 48 | 202 | 93 | 198 | 173 | 100 | 51 | 31 | 17 | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | — | — | — | SE 6 | S 13 | SSW 12 | E 8 | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SW 11 | SSE 9 | — | S 14 | SSW 9 |
35 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | 34 | 3 | 179 | 46 | 2 | 68 | 135 | 33 | 8 | — | 4 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 84 | — | 276 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 40 | 0 | 39 | 87 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 0 | 93 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 12 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 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.










