Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, checking in on the only option we’ve got on the table for the next 16 days. Let’s get straight into it.

The whole period is centred on one spot: Buffalo Bay Wildside. It’s an exposed, inconsistent set-up that rarely fires, but when it does, it demands respect. Right now, the water is sitting at 57°, and that’s a massive 6° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a real kick in the guts, so get the thickest wetsuit you own.

We’re starting with a bang on Thursday the 20th. A powerful SSW groundswell is hammering in at 10ft to 12ft with a long 13 to 14-second period. The combined energy is immense, hitting 4801 (strong to very strong). But honestly, for most of us, it’s too big. This is strictly for experts only. If you’re a pro, the Thursday morning glass-off and slight offshore wind could be a rare, heavy session. For everyone else, it’s a full pass.

Friday the 21st is the standout window in this whole outlook. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft from the SW, period still solid at 12 seconds, and the morning delivers clean conditions with a light cross-offshore breeze. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The energy is moderate at 1256, but the quality will be there. The afternoon drops off to marginal 5ft – not worth the paddle.

Saturday the 22nd gets messy. Strong cross-onshore winds and dropping swell make for poor, choppy conditions. Sunday the 23rd brings a little more size at 7ft, but it’s cross-shore and onshore winds kill the vibe – just marginal.

Monday the 25th up into Wednesday the 27th sees a slow decline. Tuesday the 25th has a clean 8ft swell with a 14-second period and cross-offshore winds, but the energy is solid at 2629, and it’s only rated as marginal due to the inconsistent nature of the break. Wednesday the 26th morning is the next real bright spot – 6ft from the SW, clean with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s excellent for experienced surfers, and the energy is moderate at 1044. After that, it fades fast into small, weak surf.

Now, holding out for the long range. There’s a promising pulse arriving around Wednesday the 2nd of September. A clean 8ft to 10ft SW swell with a long 14 to 15-second period. Energy is back up, 3008 to 4057. It’s glassy, with light offshores. But, it’s too big for the break. Again, experts only, and it’s a long way out so treat it as a promising possibility, not a sure thing.

The week in between, from the 28th of August to the 1st of September, is mostly a write-off. Some small swell, mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds, and generally poor to marginal surf. There’s a clean 8ft on the morning of the 30th, but even that is borderline for this spot.

Overall, the only consistent quality window is Friday morning, 21st August. If you’re experienced and want clean, solid waves in challenging water temps, that’s your call. Give it a rest. Buffalo Bay Wildside doesn’t hand out good waves often, so when it does, you gotta be ready.

Stay warm,

Rusty

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