Kleinemonde Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a classic Eastern Cape setup on the cards at Kleinemonde for the next couple of weeks. The window kicks off this Friday morning, 11 September, with a clean little pulse. It’s a bit of a mixed bag after that, but there are definitely a few mornings worth circling on the calendar. That water temp is sitting at 60°F, which is a hefty 7°F colder than normal for this time of year—so you’ll be wanting a good 4/3 and maybe some booties if you’re heading out before the sun gets high.

Friday morning is where we start. The swell is a solid 5ft out of the SW with a nice 13-second period, giving it some proper push and shape. The combined energy is sitting at 626 (moderate), and with a light 6 mph southerly breeze keeping it cross-off, the lines are going to be clean. That’s a good, rideable wave for intermediates—not too big, but with enough juice to get a decent turn in. It’s the standout of the first week, no question. The wind swings easterly and gets on it by the afternoon though, so get out there early.

Saturday 12 September is a write-off. Onshore easterlies in the morning at 16 mph, picking up to 19 mph by the arvo, chopping up what’s left of a dropping swell. Give it a miss. Sunday 13 September is even worse—28 to 31 mph easterlies with light rain, and a bumpy 5ft to 6ft SW swell. That’s more kite-surfing weather than paddle-surfing.

Monday 14 September brings a shift. The morning is still messy with a 19 mph NE cross-on, but look at the afternoon: a WNW offshore breeze at 9 mph, blowing straight off the land, with a 4ft SW swell and 13-second period. That’s 785 (moderate) energy and clean glassy walls. Not huge, but it’ll be fun and user-friendly.

Tuesday 15 September has a window early. Clear skies and a 12 mph WSW offshore wind, with 4ft of SW swell at 11 seconds. It’s small but clean, and the offshore will keep the shoulders nice. By the afternoon, the wind swings SE and kills the vibe with a cross-on bump.

Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 are in the marginal zone. The swell is there—6ft to 7ft from the SW (Wednesday) and 4ft to 6ft (Thursday)—but the wind is pumping 16 to 28 mph from the SW to SSW, keeping it cross-off and bumpy. The energy reads 883 to 1627 (moderate to strong), but it’s just not clean enough to recommend for a paddle.

The real gem might be the following week. Sunday 20 September morning: glassy. Zero wind, 5ft of SSW groundswell at a long 14 seconds, and 975 (moderate) energy. That’s a beautiful morning right there. The longer period will make it a bit more straight-running at a beach, but Kleinemonde has a point element to it, so those lines should wrap in nicely. If you’ve got a log or a step-up, this is one to pencil in.

Saturday 19 September morning is also a solid shout: clear sky, gentle 9 mph SW cross-off, clean 4ft SW swell at 12 seconds. It won’t be as crisp as Sunday 20, but it’s a legit option.

From there, the forecast gets wind-affected again through the rest of the third week, with onshores and strong breezes taking over. Nothing worth chasing until the tail end: Saturday 26 September morning shows 8ft of SW swell at 12 seconds with a light 3 mph southerly cross-breeze. That’s 1450 (strong) energy and only slight ripple on the surface. That’s powerful and clean, but at 8ft it’s getting into expert territory, especially if the period has that grunty 12-second pulse. If you’re comfortable in bigger waves, that could be a standout—just keep an eye on the wind leading in.

So, to sum it up: best on offer is Friday 11 September morning for a clean start, and Sunday 20 September morning for glassy conditions. The Saturday 26 September pulse is one for the experienced crew. Everything else is either blown out or marginal. It’s a patchy run, but when it’s on, it’s worth the wait.

Rusty.

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