Surf Forecasts:
East Pier (Port Alfred) surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,783 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for East Pier (Port Alfred) this week:
The surf forecast for East Pier (Port Alfred) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at East Pier (Port Alfred) in the next 16 days are 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for East Pier (Port Alfred) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, this time in feet and knots. Let’s break down East Pier for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag start, but there are clear moments of beauty if you know when to paddle out. The main story is a consistent run of SSW groundswell, but the wind is going to be the deciding factor.
The water temp at East Pier (Port Alfred) is sitting at 59°F, which is a whopping 8°F colder than it should be this time of year. That’s a major cold snap, so don’t forget the thick rubber.
We start off on Friday the 11th with chest-high waves (5ft) from the SW at a 13-second period. The energy’s moderate at 626, but with cross-shore winds making it choppy, it’s not worth a paddle.
Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are a write-off. Onshore easterly winds in the 25-31 mph range are going to wreck the 4ft to 6ft waves. Sunday has 6ft of swell but with near-gale winds—more of a kite-surfing show than a surfing session.
Now for the good stuff. Monday afternoon the 14th looks great. A light offshore WNW breeze will clean up a solid 4ft swell with a 13-second period. The combined energy is 785. It’s an inconsistent spot, so there will be waits, but when a set comes through it’ll be clean and lined up. Crowds are possible.
Tuesday the 15th has cleaner morning waves but they’re smaller. Wednesday and Thursday the 16th and 17th bring bigger swell—6ft to 7ft—but with strong cross-offshore winds, it’s going to be messy and expert-only.
Saturday morning the 19th is a solid option. A 4ft SW swell with a 12-second period and a clean cross-offshore breeze. Energy is 517. Inconsistent, but clean.
The absolute standout, the one to get hyped about, is Sunday morning the 20th. We’ve got a 5ft SSW swell with a long 14-second period, and the wind is dead calm—completely glassy. The combined energy is 975, a real solid push. That long period will wrap nicely around the pier. Crowds are likely for this one. Set your alarm.
The week after that is rough as the wind cranks from the east and northeast from the 21st to the 24th, ruining 4ft to 6ft of swell. Saturday the 26th has potential with 8ft of swell and light winds, but it’s far out so treat that as a promising maybe.
The best wave of the window? Sunday the 20th. No question.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 17°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Fri morning, near gales from the E by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 613 | 511 | 414 | 293 | 252 | 1714 | 1455 | 1091 | 649 | 396 | 473 | 222 | 314 | 538 | 505 | 592 | 1313 | 623 | 529 | 864 | 943 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:57PM1.77m | 4:09AM1.62m | 4:27PM1.77m | 4:39AM1.59m | 4:55PM1.71m | 5:07AM1.53m | 5:22PM1.62m | 5:33AM1.44m | 5:47PM1.49m | 5:59AM1.33m | 6:12PM1.35m | 6:24AM1.21m | 6:37PM1.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:42AM-0.03m | 10:08PM-0.00m | 10:12AM-0.04m | 10:37PM0.01m | 10:40AM-0.00m | 11:05PM0.06m | 11:07AM0.07m | 11:31PM0.14m | 11:33AM0.18m | 11:56PM0.25m | 11:59AM0.30m | 00:22AM0.38m | 12:25PM0.44m | 00:51AM0.51m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | |  |  | | | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | |  | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 11 | — | 1 | 9 |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SE 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 10 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ENE 10 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 613 | 511 | 414 | 93 | 211 | 1714 | 1455 | 1091 | 649 | 1975 | 1684 | 1146 | 656 | 592 | 510 | 592 | 290 | 553 | 529 | 131 | 943 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 7 | SW 11 | SE 8 | — | S 9 | S 10 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | E 10 | SSW 15 | E 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 7 | E 10 |
| kJ | 146 | 108 | 66 | 293 | 82 | — | 14 | 8 | — | 396 | 312 | 222 | 314 | 538 | 505 | 384 | 314 | 208 | 167 | 57 | 96 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 14 | ENE 10 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 5 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | — | S 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 13 | 20 | 8 | 94 | 252 | — | — | — | — | — | 473 | 12 | 13 | 27 | 178 | 291 | — | 2 | 32 | 269 | 131 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 6 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SW 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 12 | S 7 |
| kJ | — | 66 | 92 | 86 | 356 | 1004 | 1802 | 1666 | 2074 | 2230 | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 1313 | 623 | 284 | 864 | 316 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 12 | 247 | 138 | 187 | 325 | 383 | 571 | 383 | 368 | 121 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 122 | 91 | 170 | 121 | 114 | 329 | 187 | 443 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the East Pier (Port Alfred) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for East Pier (Port Alfred) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at East Pier (Port Alfred) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our East Pier (Port Alfred) 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 (East Pier (Port Alfred)) 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 East Pier (Port Alfred) 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Eastern Cape (South)? If you are looking for accommodation near East Pier (Port Alfred), camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Eastern Cape (South), consider staying in Port Alfred which is 1 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Eastern Cape (South) where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Grahamstown which is 47 km (29 miles) away, Bisho and Fort Beaufort.
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