J-Bay
Pull to refresh
Hourly Forecast
Timezone: Africa/Johannesburg
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
Friday 29
Saturday 30
Sunday 31
Monday 01
Tuesday 02
Wednesday 03
Tap a forecast cell to explore conditions on the map.
Surfnerd Logo
Join Surfnerd for free to check this forecast
Join Surfnerd to check forecasts, set your homespot, save and create spots and log your surf sessions.
Sign up with AppleSign up with Google

J-Bay surf guide

J-Bay, located in South Africa, is known for its long, powerful right-hand point break. This surf spot is famous for offering a variety of sections, including Kitchen Windows, Magnatubes, Boneyards, and the renowned Supertubes. Surfers from around the world flock here to ride the waves, especially when the conditions are just right. The spot has a dynamic environment with a mix of boulders and sand, making it a unique place to catch some incredible rides.

The best time to surf J-Bay is when the swell direction comes from the SouthWest. The waves can handle sizes starting from about 2 feet (0.6 meters) and can go up considerably on a good day. The main sections like Supertubes tend to have the best shape and power, especially during low and mid tides. This place really calls for expert skills, as maintaining speed is crucial to navigate the multiple tube sections effectively. If the wind is coming from the SouthWest, that’s usually a good sign, but watch out for the NW-NE winds which can create some tricky chop.

Be prepared for some strong currents that can push you down the point quickly. Walking back up to your spot after a ride is pretty common, but you’ll need to find your way through the sharp, mussel-covered boulders known locally as bricks. The water temperature ranges from about 15-19ºC (59-66ºF), so wearing booties might be a smart choice given the chilly upwelling and windchill. Overall, J-Bay is a spot where skilled surfers can enjoy some of the longest and most exhilarating rides on the planet.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby J-Bay

Kromme Rivermouth
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Beach break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Albatross to Kitchens
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Reef break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Hullet's Reef
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Reef break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Leftovers
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Reef break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Bruce's Beauties
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Point break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
J-Bay
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Point break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Cape St Francis Beach
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Beach break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Seal Point
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Point break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Claptons Coils
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Reef break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Van Staden's Mouth
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Beach break
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Tue 9
Login to do spot actions

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

🔮 Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

💨 Wind section

The first row on the table (with the 💨 icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

🌊 Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm choices the "dominant wave". This is normally the first swell partition, but with heavy local storms it displays the wind waves. If that's the case, we display the numbers in italic and in gray.

🌒 Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

With Surfnerd, no more "you should have been here yesterday"

Wind certainty

Wind certainty tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High certainty: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium certainty: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low certainty: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate this by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.

Surfnerd Logo
Join Surfnerd+ and get:
  • 12-day
    forecast range
    (vs 6-day)
  • Unlimited
    spot checks
    (vs 5/day)
  • Expert AI
    surf forecast write-ups
"Great Forecasts. Nothing more, nothing less."
Surfnerd for iOS: Faster loading, smoother experience.
Download on the App Store