Port Alfred - surf spot statistics

Port Alfred generally offers consistent surf year-round, with the best conditions occurring from May to August. During these months, ground swell dominance rises above 80%, providing clean, powerful waves with minimal wind interference. The mean swell size peaks at 2.9m in August, while May through July also see heights averaging 2.6m–2.8m. Wind conditions improve slightly in this period, with good wind days increasing to 23–25%—still not ideal, but better than the rest of the year. Autumn (April) and early spring (September) are decent transitional windows, with ground swell still strong (73–76%) and slightly more favorable winds than summer. However, from October to March, conditions decline due to higher wind swell influence (32–42%) and consistently poor wind direction (87–90% bad). While summer swells are smaller (2.3m–2.5m), they’re more likely to be choppy due to onshore winds. For surfers prioritizing quality over frequency, winter (May–August) is the clear choice, offering larger, cleaner waves despite lingering wind challenges. Advanced riders will find the biggest and most powerful swels in late winter (July–August), though persistent crosswinds require patience for optimal sessions.