Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, ENE swell with 2,592 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with E 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 (Sep 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what's in the water for the Bay.
First up, the honest truth: don’t expect much for a good while. We’re looking at a long, dry spell from now until late on Wednesday, the 24th of September. That’s over a week of close-out conditions: cross-shore winds, choppy mess, and swell that just isn’t cooperating. It’s a write-off. A few times the wind looks light, but the waves are still junk.
Your one real shot comes on Saturday morning, the 19th of September. Thompsons Bay finally cleans up. A light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW at 6 mph will glass the surface. Swell is a clean 5 ft from the ENE, with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (432, to put a number on it), so there’s push. Crowds are "sometimes" here, but on a morning that looks this good after a long wait, expect company.
After that, it’s back to the rough stuff. The wind swings NE and picks up through Saturday afternoon and Sunday, making it lumpy and bumpy. There’s a bit of a pulse Monday, the 21st, but with the wind howling at 18 mph out of the NE, it’s all chop.
Looking a little further, Thursday afternoon, the 24th shows a 5 ft south swell with a very long 15-second period (strong wave energy at 1051). The wind is light from the east at 6 mph, but it’s cross-onshore, so there might be a bit of texture. That kind of groundswell can get a little straight in a sheltered bay, but it’s worth watching the tide. It’s a "maybe" – a glimmer, not a guarantee.
So, bottom line: Saturday morning, the 19th is your day. The rest is a head-shaker. Water temp feels normal for the season, no big surprise there.
Stay patient.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon morning, min 18°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, near gales from the NE by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Mon night, min 18°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 160 | 122 | 94 | 103 | 277 | 315 | 545 | 1123 | 2592 | 1238 | 685 | 627 | 618 | 586 | 510 | 490 | 1064 | 881 | 545 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:11AM1.90m | 4:29PM2.03m | 4:39AM1.89m | 4:56PM1.98m | 5:06AM1.84m | 5:22PM1.89m | 5:32AM1.74m | 5:47PM1.75m | 5:57AM1.61m | 6:10PM1.60m | 6:21AM1.47m | 6:34PM1.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:07PM0.01m | 10:14AM-0.07m | 10:36PM0.00m | 10:42AM-0.05m | 11:03PM0.04m | 11:09AM0.03m | 11:29PM0.13m | 11:35AM0.14m | 11:54PM0.24m | 12:01PM0.28m | 00:19AM0.38m | 12:26PM0.45m | 00:45AM0.53m | ||||||
 |  | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | 5:45 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 15 | SSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 160 | 122 | 94 | 86 | 69 | 315 | 196 | 81 | 121 | 63 | 685 | 627 | 618 | 586 | 510 | 490 | 284 | 244 | 194 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 5 | S 8 | E 9 | SSW 19 | E 9 | SSE 8 | S 18 | — | — | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | S 12 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 12 | 9 | 68 | 103 | 277 | 61 | 40 | 54 | — | — | 49 | 27 | 23 | 10 | 32 | 3 | — | 18 | 84 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | S 10 | — | S 17 | — |
| kJ | 37 | 29 | 29 | 41 | 37 | 33 | 17 | 7 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 28 | 8 | — | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 3 | E 5 | E 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | S 14 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | 24 | 240 | 239 | 545 | 1123 | 2592 | 1238 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 150 | 1064 | 881 | 545 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 42 | 776 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 738 | 495 | 150 | 277 | 19 | 0 | 42 | 39 | 39 | 443 | 443 | 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.
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