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Conditions at Port Alfred in September
September: Spring Transition with a Winter Backbone
September is the classic shoulder month. The ocean still has winter in its system: average swell height is 2.0m (6.6ft), the period is 11.2s, and the direction distribution is still heavily S/SSW - SSW at 28.0%, S at 15.4%, SW at 11.2%. There is plenty of 1.5-2.5m (5-8ft) energy, and the late-season cold fronts can fire excellent surf. The catch is the wind. ENE has climbed back to 14.2%, E to 7.2%, and onshore-to-cross-shore WSW/SW flow totals a significant chunk of the time; ideal offshore conditions drop to 35%. You need to work the synoptic setup: a fading winter swell plus a tight NW flow behind a cold front can deliver great waves, but the inconsistency is higher than from May through August. Water temperature is 17.8°C, air temperature averages 17.0°C, and rainfall is 1.31 mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Port Alfred in September
Swell history for September
Wind history for September
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Port Alfred during September. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Port Alfred for your next trip in September.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Port Alfred for September. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Port Alfred.