Humewood Pier - surf spot statistics

Humewood Pier in South Africa is a consistent year-round surf spot with reliable ground swells dominating the conditions. The best months for surfers are generally from May to September when ground swell percentages peak (85-89%), ensuring cleaner, more powerful waves with mean swell sizes ranging from 2.3m to 2.5m. These months also offer the largest waves, particularly June and July, where the swell size averages 2.5m—ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. However, wind conditions are less favorable during this period, with bad wind conditions (onshore or cross-shore winds) occurring 80-84% of the time, which can create choppy surf. The earlier months like May and September strike a decent balance between swell size and slightly better wind odds. From October to April, ground swells decrease (61-77%), but wind conditions remain poor (75-80% bad winds), though the swell size is still respectable (2.1-2.3m). January to March sees higher wind swell influence, potentially reducing wave quality. Overall, the best compromise between swell size and wind conditions is likely late autumn (May) or early spring (September), when ground swells are strong but wind interference is slightly less severe compared to mid-winter. Advanced surfers may prioritize June and July for bigger waves despite the wind, while those seeking slightly cleaner conditions might prefer the shoulder months.

November at Humewood Pier delivers solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 2.2m and a consistent period of 11.0s, offering powerful, well-formed waves. The dominant swell direction comes from the SSW, particularly in the 1.5-2.5m range, which accounts for over 37% of swell activity—ideal for generating quality rides. Larger swells (2.5m+) occur occasionally (~1%), providing more challenging waves for advanced surfers. Wind conditions are less favorable, with only 23% of days offering clean, rideable winds. Easterlies (ENE-E) and southwesterlies (SW-WSW) prevail, often blowing at 20-40kph, which can create choppy or cross-shore conditions. The best windows are likely during lighter SE-SSW winds (10-20kph), but consistency varies. Overall, expect punchy, sizable waves with occasional wind-affected sessions, making it a solid month for experienced surfers who can time the cleaner wind periods.