Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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