Surf Forecasts:
Fence (Port Elizabeth) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 11,293 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fence (Port Elizabeth) in the next 16 days are 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fence (Port Elizabeth) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at The Fence (Port Elizabeth).
Alright, the next couple of weeks have a bit of a split personality. We've got a solid run of swell from the get-go, but the wind is going to play games with us. The water is sitting at a super chilly 59°, and it's a massive 7° colder than you'd expect for this time of year, so that's a full-on winter wetsuit and booties situation.
The standout of the whole period, without a doubt, is Wednesday morning, the 19th of August. That's the one. You get a clean 6ft SSW groundswell with a solid 13-second period, but the real magic is that glassy, off-shore wind from the northwest. It's going to be perfect. The wave energy is strong, coming in at 1067. For the experienced crew, this is your window to get the best of the break with absolutely no wind messing it up. The swell direction (SSW) is a touch south of the break's ideal (SE), but with those conditions, it'll still be fun.
After that, the rest of the week gets more challenging. The swell builds hard, hitting 8ft on Thursday morning, the 20th, with even more energy (2774). It's a size that demands respect and is really for expert surfers only. The wind will be a steady cross-off, so it'll be clean but powerful.
Look, Saturday the 22nd of August is pure chaos. The swell jumps to a massive 12ft with a huge energy reading of 3203, but it's blowing a near-gale. That's a "stay on the beach and watch" kind of day, unless you're a very experienced big-wave charger in a jet ski zone. Even the morning at 6ft has a fresh 22 mph off-shore wind, which is just too much to paddle into properly.
Things start to settle down the following week. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th have smaller, cleaner SSW swells, with Tuesday morning the 25th offering another moment of true glass with 6ft at 13 seconds. That one looks promising.
Beyond that, into the end of August and start of September, the swell drops off significantly. We get a run of small, weak swells with poor onshore winds. The energy drops below 1000. There's a real gap of poor conditions from the 28th right through until the 1st of September. The end of the forecast window on the 2nd of September shows the swell trying to pulse back up to 7ft and even 12ft, but with terrible onshore easterly winds, that's just not a surf option.
So, call it like it is: Wednesday the 19th is the day to lock in. After that, pick your sessions carefully as the wind and size make it a battle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
332 | 863 | 1326 | 1026 | 1207 | 466 | 2752 | 2313 | 1217 | 666 | 539 | 438 | 807 | 3178 | 11293 | 2875 | 1652 | 857 | 604 | 534 | 1077 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:09PM1.62m | 7:17AM1.41m | 7:47PM1.47m | 8:00AM1.28m | 8:40PM1.33m | 9:23AM1.17m | 10:26PM1.24m | 12:01PM1.17m | 00:29AM1.27m | 1:26PM1.30m | 1:33AM1.37m | 2:08PM1.45m | 2:13AM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:39PM0.47m | 1:11AM0.62m | 1:11PM0.61m | 1:49AM0.75m | 1:50PM0.76m | 2:50AM0.87m | 3:01PM0.91m | 5:32AM0.90m | 6:18PM0.93m | 7:15AM0.79m | 7:37PM0.81m | 7:57AM0.66m | 8:16PM0.69m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
— | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | E 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 |
332 | 863 | 1326 | 1026 | 26 | 466 | 2752 | 2313 | 1217 | 666 | 539 | 438 | 49 | 25 | 5550 | 2875 | 1652 | 857 | 604 | 534 | 1077 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 6 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 |
71 | 68 | 45 | 41 | — | 37 | 22 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | E 4 | WSW 2 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
62 | — | — | — | 1207 | 241 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | 807 | 3178 | 11293 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 206 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 206 | 0 | 209 | 663 | 210 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
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.











