
Surf Forecasts:
Fence (Port Elizabeth) surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, S swell with 3,388 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fence (Port Elizabeth) this week:
The surf forecast for Fence (Port Elizabeth) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fence (Port Elizabeth) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fence (Port Elizabeth) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty comin' at you from the Port Elizabeth stretch.
Honestly, it's been a rough run of it here. Straight off the bat, we've got a solid week of messy, blown-out conditions that are gonna make you question your life choices. We're looking at a long dry spell before anything worth paddling out for shows up.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn't come until Saturday, the 15th of August. It's been a long wait, almost a week of nothing but chop and onshore junk. We finally get a break in the weather. On Saturday morning at Fence (Port Elizabeth), we've got a light breeze coming from the north, giving us a clean, cross-offshore wind. The swell is a tiny, peaky 5ft from the east with a short period of 8 seconds, so it won't have heaps of punch, but the surface will be glassy. The wave energy is weak (429), but for a morning session after such a long wait, it's a welcome sight.
Then the real standout. Hold onto your board shorts. Monday morning, the 17th of August is where it's at. The wind swings to a light south-westerly, keeping it clean and cross-offshore. We've got a 4ft swell, still from the east, with a period of 11 seconds. That longer period means the lines will be cleaner and more defined, proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is a moderate 649. This is the best window in the whole forecast – clean, manageable, and consistent. Get on it.
After that, things get messy again. Tuesday the 18th sees a strong westerly wind that, despite being offshore, will be howling and tough to paddle in. The rest of the week is a mixed bag of onshore winds and bigger, messier swells. We do get another look on Saturday the 22nd of August with a cleaner morning, a 6ft east-southeast swell and a light offshore wind, but it's not the polished gem of that Monday session. Into the final days, there are hints of cleaner conditions, but the swells are either a bit too raw or the winds are not quite right.
So, bottom line: the waiting game is real. If you've got the patience, the clear winner is Monday morning, the 17th. Otherwise, the Saturday the 15th dawn patrol is your earliest ticket to a clean wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the S on Mon morning, strong winds from the E by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SSW 11 | S 14 | SSW 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | E 8 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
407 | 867 | 3388 | 1041 | 533 | 627 | 520 | 578 | 830 | 561 | 929 | 531 | 587 | 291 | 588 | 260 | 223 | 1544 | 313 | 526 | 442 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:13PM1.60m | 2:30AM1.71m | 3:00PM1.76m | 3:15AM1.81m | 3:41PM1.89m | 3:55AM1.86m | 4:19PM1.96m | 4:32AM1.87m | 4:55PM1.98m | 5:07AM1.84m | 5:29PM1.95m | 5:40AM1.77m | 6:02PM1.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:04AM0.48m | 8:24PM0.49m | 8:49AM0.35m | 9:11PM0.36m | 9:28AM0.24m | 9:51PM0.27m | 10:03AM0.18m | 10:27PM0.23m | 10:37AM0.16m | 11:02PM0.23m | 11:09AM0.18m | 11:35PM0.29m | 11:39AM0.25m | 00:06AM0.38m | |||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 11 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 11 | E 11 |
407 | 867 | 3388 | 1041 | 510 | 246 | 202 | 158 | 547 | 561 | 929 | 443 | 339 | 291 | 331 | 260 | 223 | 291 | 313 | 526 | 442 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | — | SSE 9 | S 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | S 10 | SSW 21 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ESE 12 | E 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
108 | 156 | 874 | — | 289 | 19 | 363 | 432 | 31 | 458 | 7 | 499 | 377 | 2 | 272 | 166 | 161 | 160 | 141 | 120 | 82 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | — | — | — | SSW 24 | — | — | SW 11 | S 10 | — | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | S 13 | E 12 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 12 |
29 | 31 | — | — | — | 58 | — | — | 31 | 16 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 112 | 114 | 54 | 10 | 36 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | ESE 8 | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | E 12 | — | SW 3 | WSW 3 |
223 | 158 | — | 596 | 533 | 627 | 520 | 578 | 830 | 453 | 474 | 531 | 587 | 291 | 588 | — | — | 1544 | — | 1 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 290 | 249 | 264 | 264 | 264 | 264 | 264 | 206 | 249 | 239 | 37 | 11 | 37 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Fence (Port Elizabeth) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fence (Port Elizabeth) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fence (Port Elizabeth) 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 (Fence (Port Elizabeth)) 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 Fence (Port Elizabeth) 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.
The Fence is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Port Elizabeth. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











