East Pier (Port Alfred) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the next two weeks at East Pier in Port Alfred. This is a classic exposed beach-and-pier spot that lights up with a solid SSW swell, and we’ve got a proper run of waves coming.

We kick off this Saturday, the 18th of July, with some fun, clean surf. The morning brings a 4ft S swell with a 12-second period, and the light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW is going to keep things smooth. The combined energy is 723 (moderate), enough to get you into a few. It’s a bit inconsistent here, so take your time, and crowds are sometimes a factor. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Sunday the 19th is similar, with a 4ft SW swell in the morning, dropping to a 9-second period, but still clean under a light cross-off. The energy drops to 689, but it’s still surfable.

Now, Monday the 20th of July is where we get a real surge. The morning has a 7ft SW swell, still with that light cross-off wind, and the combined energy jumps to 1471 (strong wave energy). That’s a proper step up, and it’s clean. This is a standout for the week, with excellent surf for experienced surfers. The 7ft height is pushing it for beginners, but for the rest of us, it’s a treat.

Tuesday the 21st is a step down. The morning is a bit weak with a 3ft SSW swell, but the period is a very long 15 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The energy is 892, so it’s still got some punch, but the cross-shore wind will put a bit of crinkle on the face. Not the best, but surfable.

Wednesday the 22nd of July is another cracker. The morning has a 6ft SSW swell, a 13-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is 1245 (strong wave energy), and it’s clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers.

Thursday the 23rd of July is the biggest of the week. The morning has an 8ft SW swell with an 11-second period, and it’s clean with a light cross-off. The energy is 1578 (strong), and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. At 8ft, this is expert territory, and the power is real.

Now, here’s the big warning. Friday the 24th of July sees a massive 10ft SSW swell with a very long 17-second period. The combined energy is a whopping 6086 (very strong wave energy). The wind is light and cross-off, but the swell is simply too big for this break. This is strictly for the experts, and even then, it’s a serious call. The same goes for Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th, with swell staying around 8ft to 10ft, but the wind turns onshore and messy. Saturday the 25th afternoon is a write-off with strong onshore wind.

After that, the second week tails off. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are blown out or weak. Wednesday the 29th is clean but tiny (3ft) and very windy. The last week of July and into August is mostly small and messy, with a brief window of hope on Saturday the 1st of August. The morning has a glassy 5ft SSW swell, 11-second period, and a light NE breeze. The energy is 585 (moderate), and it’s clean. That’s a nice little window to end the run.

The standout for the whole period is the Monday the 20th of July morning session, with that 7ft clean SW swell. The runner-up is Thursday the 23rd of July morning if you’re expert-level and want power. The long-range window on the 1st of August is promising for a glassy session, but it’s a long way off.

Rusty.

Read more