Surf Forecasts:
Thompsons Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with 5,266 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s 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 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thompsons Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are a tough watch for Thompsons Bay. The overall pattern is dominated by messy, cross-onshore winds that just won't let up, ruining what could have been some alright swells. There's no standout day, and for the most part, it looks like it's going to be a write-off.
Water temps are sitting at 70.2°F, which is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year, nothing unusual.
We’ve got a blank run for the first week. From Tuesday the 18th through to Friday the 21st of August, it’s all poor surf conditions. Winds are either howling cross-onshore or just cross, making everything lumpy and choppy. You don't want to bother.
Saturday the 22nd of August morning offers a tiny light, but it’s the closest thing to a clean wave we’ll see. The swell is small, only 2.0ft from the south, but with a light cross-offshore wind from the NNW, the conditions will be clean. The energy is weak (212), but for a lonely early morning paddle, you might get a few soft lines. It's not a highlight, more of a "surfable" moment.
Sunday the 23rd of August morning brings a huge jump in size, with a 13.1ft SSW swell packing a massive energy punch (8298), but it's ruined by a fresh cross-onshore wind. Afternoon sees the size drop to 8.2ft from the south, with a long 15-second period, and the wind eases to a gentle cross-on. The surf is still marginal and fairly choppy. This is big, powerful groundswell, so if you're an expert, you might find some heaving walls, but it's going to be a battle.
The rest of the run through the end of August and into the start of September is more of the same. The wind stays cross or cross-on, and the surf is poor. Tuesday the 25th and Saturday the 29th have some size, but the conditions are never clean enough to make it worth calling a stand-out. It's just a constant fight against the chop.
Honestly, this looks more like a kite session than a surf session for most of the period. The wind is onshore or cross, and when the swell is up, the quality is down. There are no good surf options in the 16-day window. For Thompsons Bay, a blank run like this is pretty normal when the wind clocks around.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Tue morning). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 36°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat night, light winds from the WNW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | ENE 7 | S 12 | S 5 | S 11 | SSW 13 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 241 | 166 | 155 | 121 | 183 | 231 | 831 | 439 | 1398 | 704 | 334 | 198 | 113 | 98 | 2853 | 5266 | 3375 | 1762 | 775 | 456 | 284 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 6:56PM1.59m | 7:03AM1.42m | 7:24PM1.42m | 7:33AM1.26m | 8:00PM1.25m | 8:20AM1.10m | 9:26PM1.10m | 12:05PM1.03m | 00:56AM1.14m | 1:46PM1.18m | 1:54AM1.29m | 2:23PM1.35m | 2:28AM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:40PM0.29m | 1:04AM0.44m | 1:10PM0.46m | 1:36AM0.59m | 1:42PM0.63m | 2:22AM0.74m | 2:38PM0.79m | 4:44AM0.84m | 6:12PM0.85m | 7:29AM0.73m | 7:45PM0.71m | 8:10AM0.56m | 8:22PM0.55m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 33 | 36 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 30 | 33 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | S 13 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 241 | 162 | 155 | 117 | 89 | 142 | 105 | 101 | 1398 | 704 | 334 | 134 | 99 | 48 | 13 | 3017 | 3375 | 1762 | 775 | 456 | 284 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | SW 16 | SSE 5 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | S 12 | — | E 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 15 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 11 | 36 | 121 | 183 | — | 34 | 22 | 21 | 21 | — | — | 113 | — | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 71 | 43 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSE 5 | — | — | NE 7 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — |
| kJ | — | 12 | 27 | 9 | — | — | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | S 6 | — | — | ENE 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 8 | S 8 | — | NE 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | — | S 5 | S 11 | SSW 13 | — | — | NE 9 | ENE 4 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 185 | 166 | — | — | 20 | 231 | 831 | 439 | — | 4 | 123 | 198 | — | 98 | 2853 | 5266 | — | — | 29 | 8 | 112 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 172 | 118 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 82 | 443 | 368 | 0 | 732 | 682 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 40 | 368 | 324 | 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.
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