Surf Forecasts:
Zoo (Bull Bay) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, ESE swell with 588 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Zoo (Bull Bay) this week:
The surf forecast for Zoo (Bull Bay) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Zoo (Bull Bay) in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Zoo (Bull Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, talkin' about Zoo (Bull Bay). It's a bit of a frustrating stretch, with a lot of junk to wade through before we get a couple of clean looks way out there.
For the first week and a half, it's a grind. The wind is mostly a cross-onshore breeze out of the ESE, just tearing the surface up. The swell energy is moderate (around 621 on Monday afternoon), but it's all messy. Reef breaks like Zoo need a clean line, and they ain't getting it. The water's sitting at about 86°, which is a bit warmer than usual for Bull Bay.
We get a tiny chance on Tuesday the 18th with a south wind and cleaner conditions, but the waves are only 4ft with a short 8-second period. It's a marginal call, not worth the drive.
From the 19th through the 25th, it's a total write-off. The wind stays onshore or cross-on. The swell does get up to 7ft by the 22nd (with strong energy reading 1054), but it's blown out. That's expert-only stuff in those conditions, and it's not even fun. Honest, with all that cross-onshore ESE wind and 6ft+ swell, this spot starts looking better for a kite than a paddle.
The real standout, and the only reason to keep your board ready, is Wednesday the 26th of August. We finally get a glassy morning with a light SSW wind, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the ESE with an 8-second period. The energy is moderate (468), and conditions are called "good." That's the one. It's a reef, so that groundswell will wrap in nice, and with no wind, it'll be butter. The morning is your best shot.
After that, the 29th of August also looks alright. Another glassy morning with a SSE wind and 4ft swell. Smaller, but it'll be clean. The 30th has a glassy start too, but it's even smaller at 4ft.
So, to boil it down: you're looking at about 8 days of nothing. Then, the 26th is your best bet by a long shot, with a few smaller, clean windows on the 29th and 30th. The call for the 26th is solid; the end of the month is a bit more of a gamble, but it's worth watching.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 34°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 34°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 619 | 387 | 223 | 197 | 179 | 128 | 143 | 161 | 157 | 220 | 238 | 370 | 488 | 524 | 588 | 524 | 464 | 388 | 361 | 486 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:47PM0.23m | 1:57PM0.27m | 00:05AM0.19m | 3:24PM0.27m | 4:45PM0.27m | 3:08AM0.15m | 5:43PM0.28m | 4:46AM0.15m | 6:26PM0.30m | 5:44AM0.17m | 7:00PM0.32m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 6:55PM0.17m | 6:26AM0.09m | 8:50PM0.18m | 7:12AM0.09m | 8:20AM0.09m | 1:00AM0.14m | 9:40AM0.08m | 1:08AM0.13m | 10:47AM0.06m | 1:23AM0.12m | 11:39AM0.05m | 1:40AM0.12m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 33 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 34 | 32 | 27 | 33 | 32 | 27 | 33 | 32 | 26 | 34 | 32 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 26 |
Feels °C | 35 | 32 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 35 | 34 | 30 | 35 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 28 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | — | — | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 7 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 387 | 223 | 2 | 179 | 128 | — | 161 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 524 | 466 | 524 | 464 | 388 | 2 | 370 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | NE 6 | — | ESE 8 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 7 | NE 3 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 619 | 2 | — | 197 | 1 | 1 | 143 | 2 | 157 | 220 | 238 | 370 | 488 | — | 588 | — | — | — | 361 | 486 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 443 | 2 | 773 | 443 | 2 | 802 | 443 | 2 | 810 | 443 | 17 | 792 | 443 | 17 | 487 | 443 | 2 | 487 | 443 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Jamaica | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Jamaica | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Zoo (Bull Bay) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Zoo (Bull Bay) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Zoo (Bull Bay) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Zoo (Bull 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 (Zoo (Bull 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 Zoo (Bull 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.
Zoo (Bull Bay) is 10 km (6 miles) from the city of Kingston. If you plan a holiday in Jamaica, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kingston. Kingston has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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