Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming up for Fence (Port Elizabeth). We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards, but you’ve got to pick your moments with the wind.

The action kicks off Monday the 14th of September with a serious pulse of energy. We’re looking at an 8ft swell rolling in from the east, with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a hefty 1524, which is strong stuff. That’s a lot of water moving, and with a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW, the morning session is going to be clean and powerful. This is advanced territory for sure – that’s a big wave, so only the experienced crew should be out there. The afternoon sees the wind pick up and the quality drops off, so make the most of the morning.

Tuesday the 15th, the swell drops to 5ft, still from the east, but the period stretches to 11 seconds, which is a nice groundswell. The morning has clean offshore wind from the WSW, making for some tidy, well-shaped waves. It’s a good option for a solid session without the absolute size of the day before.

Wednesday the 16th is a write-off, I’m afraid. We’ve got a fresh 30 km/h cross-offshore wind and rain, making a mess of things. The swell is small and mixed up, just not worth it.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Thursday the 17th right through to Saturday the 19th, it’s onshore and lumpy. Strong winds out of the east and southeast just ruin the surface. There’s some size in there – Saturday the 19th has 10ft swell, but it’s blowing onshore at 45 km/h. That’s a mess, and I wouldn’t bother. It might look more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle guys.

Sunday the 20th is a bit of a tease. We’ve got a 10ft swell from the southeast with a 10-second period and a huge 2616 combined energy. The wind is light and cross-shore in the morning, which is better, but the forecast calls it marginal. It’s a big, powerful swell, but the wind direction isn’t perfect. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-offshore breeze, and the swell drops to 7ft, which is a bit more manageable. Still, keep your expectations in check.

The week from Monday the 21st to Wednesday the 23rd is small and quiet. Swell drops under 4ft, and the winds are mostly light. It’s not really worth a special trip, but the Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning have some clean, if small, waves for a longboard or a funboard.

We get another pulse of energy from Thursday the 24th of September, but it’s a disaster for surfing. Onshore winds from the east at 35-40 km/h hit a 10-12ft swell. That’s just blown-out, dangerous conditions. Skip it.

Friday the 25th is better, with a 6ft easterly swell and a moderate cross-onshore wind. Not great, but the afternoon lightens up to a light cross-shore breeze, making it a bit more rideable.

Saturday the 26th is a wildcard. A 10ft swell from the SSW with near-gale offshore winds at 50 km/h. The waves will be clean, but the wind is so strong it’ll be near-impossible to paddle into anything. That’s for the truly insane or those with a jetski.

Now, here’s the standout of the whole forecast. Sunday the 28th of September is the one to circle. We’ve got a 10ft swell from the SSW with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy is a massive 3380, and the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the southwest. This is a proper groundswell, and at a point break like Fence, that long period is going to produce some beautifully shaped, powerful waves. The water temperature is about average for the time of year. This is for advanced surfers only – that’s a big, powerful wave, but the conditions look absolutely excellent. The Monday afternoon also has some solid 8ft swell, but it’s a bit more cross-shore.

Tuesday the 29th still has some size at 7ft, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s not as clean.

So, to wrap it up: the first real standout is Monday the 14th morning for a big, clean easterly swell. But the absolute best on offer is Sunday the 28th of September – that SSW groundswell with light offshore wind is going to be magic at Fence. Get ready for that one.

Rusty.

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