
Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 4 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSE swell with 3,045 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period with SSE 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thompsons Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 04) 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 1.4m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 4th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 4th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 4th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Thompsons Bay.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is gonna be a tough slog. There’s a big ol’ gap of nothing much to get excited about, with only a couple of days offering anything worth paddling out for. Things finally look a bit more promising right at the very end of the 16-day window, but that’s a long way off and far from certain.
First up, we’ve got a couple of sessions on Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th of July, but don’t get your hopes up. Saturday morning has a solid 8ft swell from the SSE with a long 12-second period, carrying some serious weight with a combined energy of 2257. The problem? It’s onshore and the conditions are described as marginal, with questionable tides. The afternoon cleans up a bit wind-wise but drops to 7ft. The scores aren't there for a standout. Sunday drops off fast, with the wind swinging onshore and the swell fading quick. That morning still has 6ft, but the wind is cross-shore, and the combined energy is down to 751.
Then we hit a real dry spell. From Monday the 6th right through to Friday the 17th of July, it’s a whole lot of nothing. There’s a tiny blip on Monday afternoon with a 4ft wave from the NE and glassy conditions, which is a rare gift in this stretch, but the period is a short 6 seconds and the combined energy is only 315 – weak and wobbly. It’s surfable, but it’s a far cry from good. Thursday the 9th afternoon has a bigger 7ft swell from the S with a long 13-second period and combined energy of 1756, but the cross-onshore wind kills it. That pattern of decent swell with uncooperative winds repeats itself.
The biggest tease comes Saturday the 11th of July. There’s a chunky 8ft S swell with a very long 16-second period and a massive combined energy of 2630. That’s a proper groundswell. But it’s cross-onshore with rain showers and a risk of thunderstorms. That setup, with that much power and onshore wind at a beach setup, honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The 8ft+ size also puts it firmly in the “experts only” category even if the wind was perfect.
Now, for the one true standout in this whole outlook. Look to the very end of the window, on Sunday the 19th of July. We’ve got a solid 12ft swell from the S, a moderate 9-second period, and combined energy of 2158. The wind is a light 4 mph from the east, which is cross-onshore, but it’s described as "slight air" with only small wind ripples. It’s not glassy, but it’s close. For a break that’s sheltered and looks for swell from the SE, this S swell will wrap in with a lot of power. At 12ft, this is for experienced surfers only – beginners need to stay well clear. It’s the most promising day of the whole 16 days, but it’s a long-range call, so take it with a pinch of salt for now.
Water temps are about average for the time of year here at Thompsons Bay.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Fri 10 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3042 | 2111 | 1361 | 831 | 686 | 475 | 273 | 151 | 124 | 331 | 176 | 78 | 86 | 51 | 81 | 481 | 438 | 1708 | 1218 | 826 | 1511 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:59AM1.65m | 6:28PM1.66m | 6:33AM1.59m | 7:04PM1.63m | 7:11AM1.51m | 7:46PM1.58m | 7:57AM1.42m | 8:37PM1.52m | 8:56AM1.32m | 9:44PM1.46m | 10:18AM1.25m | 11:09PM1.43m | 11:55AM1.27m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:56PM0.33m | 12:11PM0.21m | 00:32AM0.36m | 12:45PM0.26m | 1:11AM0.42m | 1:23PM0.33m | 1:58AM0.48m | 2:08PM0.41m | 2:56AM0.55m | 3:07PM0.50m | 4:12AM0.59m | 4:26PM0.56m | 5:42AM0.57m | 5:58PM0.54m | |||||||
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | |
5:07 | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | S 8 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 15 |
3042 | 2111 | 1361 | 831 | 686 | 475 | 273 | 151 | 120 | 147 | 83 | 33 | 85 | 34 | 26 | 27 | 438 | 1708 | 1218 | 826 | 1511 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SE 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
101 | 93 | 65 | 63 | 59 | 40 | 39 | 49 | 52 | 77 | 59 | 44 | 86 | 31 | 81 | 86 | 140 | 40 | 35 | 21 | 19 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | SW 10 | SW 20 | S 18 | S 17 | SSW 10 | ESE 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SW 14 | SE 10 | SE 9 | S 15 | ESE 9 | SE 15 | SE 13 | SE 13 |
98 | 53 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 33 | 39 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 51 | 23 | 13 | 159 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | — | — | SSW 2 | SSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 12 | 102 | 136 | 124 | 331 | 176 | 78 | — | — | 1 | 481 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 37 | 0 | 25 | 42 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 25 | 0 | 25 | 741 | 0 | 39 | 42 | 0 | 19 | 39 |
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.











