Yzerfontein Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for Yzerfontein over the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking off with a classic South African winter pattern, but it’s a bit of a messy start. The first few days are dominated by a big, powerful SW groundswell that’s just too much for the setup. The water is sitting at 55°F, which is a solid 4°F colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll be wanting a good quality 5/3, that’s for sure.

The action starts Friday afternoon, the 7th of August, but it’s not good news. The swell is 12ft from the SW with a period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 4430 (strong). That’s big, powerful water, and with a cross-shore SSW wind, it’s going to be a washing machine. This one is for the hardcore crew only, and even then, it’s a mission.

Saturday morning, the 8th, is a different story. The swell drops to 8ft from the SW (13 seconds), and the wind goes glassy. That’s a beautiful window for experienced surfers. The water is still chilly, but the conditions will be clean. Saturday afternoon, the wind gets on it again and the swell bumps back up to 12ft, so that morning window is the pick.

Sunday the 9th is blown out. A strong SSE breeze of 25 mph is making a mess of the 10ft to 12ft SW swell. The break is exposed and it’s going to be a howling, choppy mess. The combined energy is still well over 2000 (strong), but with that wind, it’s a kite-surfing show, not a paddle session.

Monday the 10th is still fresh and windy, with a 7ft to 8ft SSW swell. The wind is cross-off but strong, and the conditions are only marginal.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday morning, the 11th of August, we get a proper clean-up. The swell settles to 7ft from the SSW at 12 seconds, and the wind goes light offshore from the E at 9 mph. The energy is 1260 (moderate), but the conditions are clean. That’s a solid session for anyone who knows their way around a beach break. The afternoon is a little wonky with a cross-off breeze, but still good.

Wednesday the 12th is a standout. We’ve got a new pulse of groundswell coming in from the WSW with a very long period of 19 seconds in the morning and 18 seconds in the afternoon. The swell is 5ft to 6ft, and the wind is offshore from the ENE and ESE. The energy is around 1919 and 2008 (moderate). This is the kind of day where the long-period swell hits the reefs and points perfectly, with clean, offshore conditions. This is the best on offer in the entire outlook.

Thursday the 13th keeps the good vibes going. The swell is 7ft in the morning from the WSW at 17 seconds, with a cross-off wind. The afternoon is glassy offshore with a 7ft swell from the WSW at 16 seconds. The energy is 1953 (moderate). Another solid day.

Friday the 14th is still clean, with a 6ft swell from the WSW at 14 seconds and a light cross-off wind in the morning. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-shore breeze, so the morning is the pick.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th sees a slight drop in quality. The swell is still around 7ft, but the wind is shifting around from the N and SW, creating messy conditions. It’s still surfable, but it’s not the glassy perfection we had mid-week.

From the 17th onwards, things get a bit ordinary. The 18th and 19th are dominated by onshore and cross-shore winds, and the swell is mushy. By the 19th, we’ve got a strong NNW wind of 25 mph and a 8ft swell, making for poor, choppy conditions. The energy is still high (1970), but it’s a battle.

Then, a final reminder of winter’s power. The 21st and 22nd of August see a massive new swell pulse. The 21st has a 13ft to 15ft swell from the W and WSW, with energy hitting 5209 (very strong). The 22nd is even bigger, with an 18ft swell and energy of 9994 (very strong). These are massive, dangerous waves, only for the most experienced big-wave chargers, and even then, the wind isn’t perfect.

So, if you’re looking for the best windows, lock in Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th. That long-period WSW groundswell with offshore winds is the purest surf we’ll see all fortnight.

Rusty.

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