Surf Forecasts:
Fence (Port Elizabeth) surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period, SSW swell with 939 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 15s is also forecast. 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 1.2m 19s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fence (Port Elizabeth) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Howdy, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Fence (Port Elizabeth), and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough run ahead. For a spot that’s usually a machine, we’re looking at one hell of a dry spell before things finally turn. The water is sitting at a freezing 60°, which is a massive 7° colder than normal for this time of year. That’s not just a little nippy, that’s a proper shock to the system, so dig out the thickest wetsuit you own.
We start on Thursday the 13th with nothing doing. A junk 3 ft SSW swell with a screaming 16 mph cross-onshore from the NE. It’s a mess. That sets the tone for the next few days. Friday the 14th is more of the same – small, weak, and cross-shore winds. The combined energy is dropping off a cliff, from 1709 down to 632, just weak sauce.
Finally, a glimmer on Saturday the 15th morning. That’s our first real standout. A light 9 mph offshore wind from the WSW cleans up a tiny 2 ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period. It’s small, but the conditions will be glassy. This is your window if you’re desperate and on a longboard. The combined energy is a quiet 324, so don’t expect any punch. Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th are marginal, with cleaner windows but very small swell.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The second week is grim. From Tuesday the 18th through to Friday the 28th, it’s a battleground. Strong easterly winds, onshore and cross-onshore, just ruining everything. Swell pulses come and go, but the wind is relentless. On Tuesday the 25th, an ugly 10 ft easterly windswell shows up with an 8-second period and 16 mph cross-on winds – that’s just closeout city, a proper washing machine. Combined energy hits 2022, but it ain’t the good kind.
Then, just as you’re about to give up, the light appears. Wednesday the 26th looks promising. A clean morning with light northerly winds, almost glassy, on a 6 ft easterly groundswell at a 10-second period. That’s the best wave of the fortnight. The combined energy is a solid 681, it’ll have some push. This is an expert-level size, too big for beginners, but for the crew who know, that Thursday the 27th morning will be clean too, with a 4 ft easterly swell and light offshore winds. It’s a long way off, so don’t book the time off just yet, but it’s something to hold onto.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | E 8 | SSW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 7 | SW 13 | E 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
707 | 939 | 542 | 372 | 386 | 223 | 129 | 123 | 120 | 79 | 178 | 120 | 401 | 444 | 395 | 313 | 253 | 230 | 488 | 618 | 458 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | off | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 4:19PM1.96m | 4:32AM1.87m | 4:55PM1.98m | 5:07AM1.84m | 5:29PM1.95m | 5:40AM1.77m | 6:02PM1.87m | 6:12AM1.67m | 6:36PM1.75m | 6:44AM1.55m | 7:09PM1.62m | 7:17AM1.41m | 7:47PM1.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:03AM0.18m | 10:27PM0.23m | 10:37AM0.16m | 11:02PM0.23m | 11:09AM0.18m | 11:35PM0.29m | 11:39AM0.25m | 00:06AM0.38m | 12:09PM0.35m | 00:38AM0.49m | 12:39PM0.47m | 1:11AM0.62m | 1:11PM0.61m | 1:49AM0.75m | |||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 17 | 18 | 23 | 28 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 10 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 6 |
707 | 939 | 542 | 253 | 219 | 223 | 129 | 97 | 16 | 78 | 141 | 120 | 401 | 444 | 395 | 313 | 253 | 230 | 488 | 618 | 123 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 8 | E 10 | SW 13 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 12 |
446 | 7 | 499 | 372 | 287 | 186 | 127 | 123 | 40 | 55 | 178 | 65 | 178 | 165 | 125 | 92 | 66 | 44 | 26 | 26 | 458 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | — | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | ESE 12 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 |
16 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 9 | 6 | 120 | 79 | 46 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | — | NNE 2 | E 8 | W 3 | WSW 5 | — | ENE 5 | NNW 3 | SW 3 | SW 6 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | SW 5 | SW 6 | — | ESE 9 | E 6 |
491 | 564 | — | 1 | 386 | 7 | 28 | — | 42 | 3 | 3 | 18 | — | — | — | 1 | 30 | 56 | — | 132 | 193 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 246 | 246 | 37 | 11 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











