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East London Surf Report

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SURF RATING
POOR
★★☆☆☆
Marginal: waist-to-chest-high waves on moderate-period swell, though onshore wind is adding chop.
WAVE
1.5 m
SWELL
1.0m @ 9s
WIND
6 km/h Onshore
WATER
16.8°C

★★☆☆☆

Marginal: waist-to-chest-high waves on moderate-period swell, though onshore wind is adding chop.

Swell: 1.0 m @ 9 s (SSE)

Wave height: 1.5 m

Wind: 6 km/h S Onshore

Sea temp: 16.8 °C · Wetsuit: 4/3 mm wetsuit + booties

Best window today: 12:00–14:00 (lightest wind)

🧬 Break DNA
44% match
Today: rideable but not classic
🌊 Wave type
Beach & reef
🧭 Best swell
SE groundswell, 11–16s
💨 Best wind
NW offshore
🏄 Board
Shortboard
📈 Skill
Intermediate–advanced
Ideal wind & swell are derived from the way this coast faces; break type is local knowledge. Match blends today’s swell angle, wind & period.

🌊 Why it’s reading like this right now

Onshore windwave direction
  • Mid-period SSE swell at 9s is wrapping into the bank
  • 5 km/h onshore wind is adding chop
  • Not fully aligned today — pick your moment on the timeline above.
East London surf mission card
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🏄 When to paddle out today

🏄 Reading today’s surf…
00:00 — Fun (★★★) · 2.0m chest-head · 21km/h Cross01:00 — Fun (★★★) · 2.0m chest-head · 18km/h Cross02:00 — Fun (★★★) · 2.0m chest-head · 16km/h Cross03:00 — Fun (★★★) · 2.0m chest-head · 8km/h Cross04:00 — Marginal (★★) · 1.9m chest-head · 0km/h Onshore05:00 — Fun (★★★) · 1.9m chest-head · 11km/h Cross06:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.9m chest-head · 11km/h Offshore07:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.8m chest-head · 12km/h Offshore08:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.8m chest-head · 12km/h Offshore09:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.7m chest-head · 8km/h Offshore10:00 — Marginal (★★) · 1.6m chest-head · 3km/h Onshore11:00 — Fun (★★★) · 1.6m chest-head · 3km/h Cross12:00 — Fun (★★★) · 1.6m chest-head · 2km/h Cross13:00 — Fun (★★★) · 1.5m chest-head · 4km/h Onshore14:00 — Fun (★★★) · 1.5m chest-head · 11km/h Onshore15:00 — Fun (★★★) · 1.5m waist-chest · 6km/h Onshore16:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.4m waist-chest · 8km/h Cross17:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.4m waist-chest · 8km/h Cross18:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.4m waist-chest · 12km/h Cross19:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.4m waist-chest · 15km/h Cross20:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.3m waist-chest · 13km/h Cross21:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.3m waist-chest · 15km/h Cross22:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.3m waist-chest · 16km/h Cross23:00 — Clean (★★★★) · 1.3m waist-chest · 17km/h Crossnow00:0006:0012:0018:0024:00
■ epic   ■ clean   ■ fun   ■ marginal   ■ flat   ■ dawn/dusk · tap an hour

🎒 Pack for this session

🏄 Board
Shortboard
🤿 Wetsuit
4/3 mm wetsuit + booties
🧴 Bring
Reef-safe sunscreen
🧢 Bring
Boots & hood
☀️Midday:Warmer but often windier; moderate crowd
Crowd estimate is a comfort/timing proxy from conditions & day of week — not a live crowd count.
Swell & wind
NESW
■ swell in   ■ wind (green=offshore/good)   offshore zone
Spot match
Swell anglePeriodSizeWindSea state
5-day wave & wind forecast
ThuFriSatSunMon0.0m1.1m2.2m01530now
■ wave height (m)   ── wind (km/h, right)

7-Day Surf Forecast

DayRatingWavePeriodSwellMidday wind
Wed 23 Sep ★★★☆☆ 1.9 m 7 s ESE 2 km/h Cross
Thu 24 Sep ★★☆☆☆ 1.6 m 7 s SSE 11 km/h Onshore
Fri 25 Sep ★★★★☆ 1.7 m 9 s SSE 17 km/h Cross
Sat 26 Sep ★★★☆☆ 1.5 m 8 s S 6 km/h Onshore
Sun 27 Sep ★★★☆☆ 2.1 m 8 s S 30 km/h Cross
Mon 28 Sep ★★★☆☆ 2.2 m 8 s S 27 km/h Cross
Tue 29 Sep ★★☆☆☆ 2.1 m 7 s S 7 km/h Onshore

Daily peak wave height, mean swell period & direction, midday wind. Rating is our surf-quality score.

🌊 Today's tide (nearest station)

00:0006:0012:0018:0024:00L 08:03H 14:18L 20:28now

☀️ Sun & skin — out on the water all day

Sunrise 05:55 · Sunset 18:06 · Peak UV 7

Surfers & anglers get the highest UV dose of anyone. Recommended: SPF 50, reapply every 2 hours and after every session.

Shop SPF 50 sunscreen →

Surf/wave: Open-Meteo Marine. Sun/UV/pressure: Open-Meteo. Tides: Stormglass model. Solunar is an approximate guide. Generated Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:13 SAST.

Aerial map — East London

Crayonised aerial map of East London
Orient Beach
Peak

Hand-styled from NGI 0.25 m national aerial. Markers show the peak, channel & hazards — indicative local knowledge, not live conditions or navigation advice; tides, banks, rips & hazards change, so use your own eyes on the day.

About East London — Surf Local Knowledge

East London is South Africa's only river port, set at the mouth of the Buffalo River in the Eastern Cape. Its coastline packs several distinct spots into a short stretch — the sheltered Orient Beach by the harbour, the open sand of Eastern Beach, and the famous reef at Nahoon just to the north — giving surfers everything from protected beginner waves to serious reef.

Conditions favour south to south-west groundswells with offshore winds from the west through north-west, and winter is the most reliable season. Eastern Beach and Orient offer beach-break waves for a range of abilities, while Nahoon Reef nearby is the standout for stronger surfers. Crowds concentrate at the reef on good days. Hazards include rip currents on the open beaches, rocks and urchins on the reefs, and East London has a genuine shark presence, so keep your wits about you.

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