West Pier (Port Alfred) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

The next couple of weeks start out pretty bleak, to be honest. We’ve got a lot of poor conditions and not much pushing through for West Pier. The first few days are marginal at best, and honestly, you’re better off finding something else to do if you’re not desperate. There’s a little pulse of swell but the wind’s all over the place and it’s messy.

Monday the 14th is a washout – morning has a bit of cross-shore chop and the afternoon goes glassy but the swell’s small, around the 1.0-1.1m mark with a 13-second period. It’s clean in the arvo but weak – the combined energy is only 307. You might get a few runners but it’s not worth getting wet for.

Tuesday the 15th drops off even more – 0.8m and the wind is offshore in the morning, so it looks clean, but it’s weak and ordinary. The energy is down at 174, so you’re really scratching for anything.

Then we get a bit of a push mid-week, but it’s not friendly. Wednesday the 16th sees a 1.5m SW swell with a 14-second period, but it’s blowing 30 km/h cross-shore and the afternoon gets worse – 2.2m and cross-onshore, choppy as hell. Energy jumps to 2420 but it’s not usable.

Thursday and Friday are poor – onshore winds, lumpy, messy. The swell’s there but it’s not working for the pier. Friday arvo has 2.5m but the wind is 35 km/h onshore and it’s a mess. Energy’s up at 1301 but you’d be fighting it all day.

Saturday the 19th is a write-off – 45 km/h cross-shore winds and the swell is dropping. Just no.

Then we hit Sunday the 20th and things get interesting, but not good. There’s a 3.0m ESE swell with a 10-second period and the wind is clean – light offshore in the morning, actually glassy. But this is way too big for West Pier. The energy is at 1889 and the note is clear – too big for this break. So it’s a pass unless you’re a total charger and even then, it’s sketchy.

Monday the 21st drops to 1.2m but the wind is back onshore and it’s just marginal. Nothing happening.

The next few days – the 22nd, 23rd – are back to small, mediocre conditions. Wind is light but it’s cross-onshore or on, so it’s not clean. Swell between 0.9m and 1.1m. Not worth the paddle.

Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th are poor – strong winds, small swell, just messy. The energy is low, 114-191. You’re not missing anything.

Then we hit Saturday the 26th and I have to say, this one gets my blood pumping a bit, even though it’s not for the faint of heart. The swell is 3.5m SW with a 10-second period, but the wind is 60 km/h offshore in the morning – clean, but howling. The energy is up at 3031 – that’s strong. But the note says poor conditions – that wind is way too strong for comfort, even if it’s offshore. It’s more of a kite day than a paddle day at that size with that wind. The afternoon drops to 2.5m and the wind backs off a touch, but still 55 km/h – clean but wild.

Sunday the 27th – this is the big one. 3.5m SW swell, 14-second period in the morning, and the energy is massive – 7108. That’s a serious groundswell. But the wind is onshore at 25 km/h, so it’s going to be a washing machine. The afternoon gets a bit better with a 13-second period and 20 km/h onshore, but it’s still sizey and raw. This is expert territory only – over 2.5m and onshore wind means it’s not user-friendly.

Monday the 28th is the standout, if you can handle it. 3.0m SSW swell with a 15-second period – that’s a proper long-period groundswell. The morning has a cross-onshore breeze at 15 km/h, so it’s a bit choppy but the energy is at 4412 – that’s serious. The afternoon is a touch better – 10 km/h onshore, still 3.0m, and 3621 energy. The note says wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is too big for this break. So it’s a pass for the pier, but if you’re a charger and you know other spots, this is the day.

Tuesday the 29th drops back to 2.4m but it’s still SSW with a 13-second period, cross-shore wind at 20 km/h

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