Surf Forecasts:
West Pier (Port Alfred) surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with 2,123 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for West Pier (Port Alfred) this week:
The surf forecast for West Pier (Port Alfred) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at West Pier (Port Alfred) in the next 16 days are 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for West Pier (Port Alfred) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and let’s have a look at what’s brewing for West Pier.
Straight up, this is a tricky 16-day stretch for West Pier. The first week is mostly a write-off thanks to messy cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions. The real standout action is a long way off, on the morning of Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday, August 23rd. That’s your window.
Let’s start with Sunday, August 11th. There’s some solid 8ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period pushing in, giving us strong wave energy (2363), but it’s pinned by a moderate cross-onshore breeze and chop. The whole setup is too rough for a good time. This messy pattern carries right through the week. A rare glimmer shows up on Wednesday morning, August 12th, with clean conditions and a cross-off wind, but the swell has dropped to 7ft from the ESE and the period has dropped to just 8 seconds, giving us weak, short-period slop (1291). Not worth getting out of bed for.
The mornings of Saturday and Sunday, August 16th and 17th, see the swell fade out to tiny 2ft and 5ft, but on Monday, August 18th, the morning goes glassy with a 5ft WSW wind swell. Period is only 5 seconds, so it’s weak and crumbly, but that glassy surface is a rare treat. Still, it’s just not enough power for a proper session.
Then comes the big turn. The morning of Saturday, August 22nd is the real deal. A clean, offshore breeze from the NW, combined with a solid 7ft S swell at 12 seconds and strong to very strong wave energy (1275). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. This is a powerful, well-shaped groundswell, but it’s over 5ft, so steer clear if you’re a beginner. On Sunday morning, August 23rd, it stays clean with a 6ft SSW swell at 11 seconds and strong energy (1367). That cross-off wind will keep the face nice and clean for a proper session.
As for the water, it’s a shocker: 61°F, which is 6°F colder than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so bring a thick wetsuit.
Crowds are possible at West Pier, but on these standout mornings with offshore winds, expect a few locals to be out.
So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The best surf is the morning of Saturday, August 22nd with a clean 7ft S swell and light offshore wind. Sunday morning, August 23rd, is also a solid choice. After that, the long-range looks iffy again. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, circle those two dates.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NE by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 20 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2318 | 1677 | 1863 | 1398 | 1050 | 1720 | 2123 | 1461 | 612 | 547 | 615 | 729 | 1134 | 612 | 900 | 519 | 425 | 220 | 211 | 120 | 116 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:27PM1.18m | 1:47AM1.35m | 2:23PM1.35m | 2:38AM1.47m | 3:07PM1.52m | 3:21AM1.57m | 3:47PM1.65m | 3:59AM1.62m | 4:23PM1.73m | 4:34AM1.62m | 4:57PM1.75m | 5:08AM1.58m | 5:30PM1.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:30PM0.44m | 8:10AM0.28m | 8:29PM0.29m | 8:55AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.16m | 9:33AM0.03m | 9:56PM0.07m | 10:08AM-0.04m | 10:33PM0.04m | 10:41AM-0.05m | 11:07PM0.05m | 11:12AM-0.02m | 11:40PM0.10m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — |
mm | 1 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 19 |
Feels °C | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SW 13 | E 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 94 | 1677 | 44 | 1398 | 1050 | 1720 | 2123 | 1461 | 612 | 325 | 303 | 729 | 1134 | 612 | 900 | 519 | 425 | 220 | 211 | 120 | 116 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | E 10 | — | SE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 15 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 25 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | E 10 | ESE 8 | SSW 20 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 13 | ENE 12 | E 13 |
| kJ | 100 | 67 | — | 147 | 28 | 355 | 27 | 235 | 63 | 419 | 615 | 118 | 34 | 550 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 47 | 30 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ENE 9 | SSW 15 | ENE 9 | — | E 10 | S 10 | — | — | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 11 | S 9 | — | — | — | S 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 28 | 84 | 29 | — | 52 | 8 | — | — | 157 | 30 | 15 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 7 | SSW 10 | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 2318 | 262 | 1863 | — | 143 | 165 | 240 | 352 | 612 | 547 | 582 | 240 | 184 | 275 | 289 | 333 | 331 | 332 | 358 | 413 | 640 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 172 | 728 | 186 | 172 | 172 | 172 | 381 | 745 | 324 | 323 | 381 | 120 | 244 | 357 | 144 | 21 | 156 | 21 | 0 | 137 | 21 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the West Pier (Port Alfred) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for West Pier (Port Alfred) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at West Pier (Port Alfred) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our West Pier (Port Alfred) 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 (West Pier (Port Alfred)) 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 West Pier (Port Alfred) 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Eastern Cape (South)? If you are looking for accommodation near West Pier (Port Alfred), camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Eastern Cape (South), consider staying in Port Alfred which is 1 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Eastern Cape (South) where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Grahamstown which is 48 km (30 miles) away, Bisho and Fort Beaufort.
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