Port Alfred • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (May - August)

The Southern Ocean storm track awakens through the austral autumn and by May Port Alfred is in the firing line. Mid-latitude lows and frontal systems tracking south of Africa set up a steady conveyor of S, SSW and SW groundswell, while the South Atlantic high migrates north enough to allow more frequent offshore N, WNW, NW and NNW flow. Average swell heights climb to 1.9-2.0m (6.2-6.6ft), periods peak around 11.6-12.0s, and ideal conditions occur 45-59% of the time. This is when the southeast-facing setup at Port Alfred shows its true potential - clean, powerful, long-period waves reeling down the coast.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September sit on the shoulders of winter and offer a slightly less consistent version of the same formula. Swell size remains respectable at 1.8-2.0m (5.9-6.6ft) with periods around 11.1-11.2s, but the wind regime is in transition. Offshore flow becomes less dependable, with ideal conditions 35-39% of the time, and ENE/E trade winds begin to blur the surface. Still, the S/SSW groundswell is there, and when a cold front sweeps through with a clearing NW wind, the waves can be world class.

Low Surf Season (October - March)

From spring into summer, the South Atlantic high sets up shop over the region and the surf character changes dramatically. Port Alfred becomes dominated by a persistent ENE/E wind regime, average periods drop to 10.2-10.8s, and ideal offshore flow falls to just 20-27% of the time. Average swell heights are still a healthy 1.7-1.8m (5.6-5.9ft), mainly from S and SSW plus east in the mix, but the shorter periods and wind-affected surface make for mushier, less organised waves. March is the best of these months as autumn starts to creep back in, but summer afternoons remain the biggest obstacle to quality surf.