Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,761 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Buffalo Bay Wildside this week:
The surf forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 12s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking at Buffalo Bay Wildside.
We start off on Sunday the 30th with some size on the way. A 7ft SW swell with moderate energy (1063) rolls in, but the southerly wind is cross-on, so the surface is gonna be bumpy. The water is sitting at 59°F, which is a good 4°F colder than usual for this time of year, so bring the thick rubber.
Monday the 31st sees the surf drop to 5ft from the SW, but the wind stays cross-on and it’s still marginal. Tuesday the 1st of September is better, with 7-8ft SW swell and clean offshore SSW winds in the afternoon. That’s a big step up in quality, but those waves are getting up there in size.
The best window is Wednesday the 2nd of September. We’ve got a 10ft SW swell with strong energy (3072) and a solid 14-second period. The morning has light cross-shore wind, but the afternoon turns clean with a cross-off breeze. That long-period groundswell is going to set up some powerful lines, but it’s strictly for the experienced crowd.
Thursday the 3rd gets messy with onshore winds and chop, then we hit a long dry spell from the 4th through the 11th of September where the surf stays small, inconsistent, or just plain poor.
The run finishes with a bright spot: Sunday the 13th of September brings a clean 6ft SW swell in the morning with light offshore winds. That’s a solid option for intermediate surfers. Then Monday the 14th of September has a late pulse with another 10ft SW swell, but that’s a big, powerful wave only for the experts.
Your best bet is Wednesday the 2nd of September for the clean afternoon, or that Sunday the 13th for a more manageable size. That Wednesday morning is too big for most, but the afternoon will be worth the wait.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the SE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 665 | 1187 | 892 | 663 | 573 | 866 | 1369 | 2168 | 3761 | 3065 | 2376 | 1703 | 824 | 1609 | 1477 | 921 | 379 | 429 | 399 | 854 | 3158 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:54PM1.90m | 5:06AM1.72m | 5:24PM1.85m | 5:38AM1.64m | 5:57PM1.76m | 6:13AM1.53m | 6:34PM1.62m | 6:54AM1.38m | 7:20PM1.45m | 7:52AM1.21m | 8:36PM1.27m | 9:53AM1.10m | 10:59PM1.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:40AM0.01m | 11:05PM0.06m | 11:09AM0.05m | 11:36PM0.12m | 11:40AM0.14m | 00:11AM0.21m | 12:14PM0.26m | 00:51AM0.35m | 12:56PM0.42m | 1:45AM0.51m | 1:58PM0.59m | 3:22AM0.65m | 4:09PM0.71m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 19 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 665 | 1187 | 892 | 663 | 573 | 866 | 1369 | 2168 | 3761 | 3065 | 2376 | 1703 | 700 | 540 | 1477 | 921 | 379 | 262 | 399 | 854 | 3158 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | SSE 7 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | S 9 | SW 11 | SE 8 | WSW 10 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 331 | 41 | 21 | 37 | 15 | 33 | 32 | 19 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 325 | 235 | 339 | 429 | 145 | 182 | 35 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | E 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SE 11 | SW 11 | S 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | WSW 10 |
| kJ | 67 | 20 | 10 | 11 | 37 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 182 | 246 | 94 | 117 | 84 | 62 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 8 | SSE 9 | SSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 824 | 1609 | 651 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 524 | 847 | 3090 | 19 | 19 | 415 | 19 |
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Information about the Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Buffalo Bay Wildside provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Buffalo Bay Wildside can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Buffalo Bay Wildside) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Garden Route? If you are looking for accommodation near Buffalo Bay Wildside, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Garden Route, consider staying in Knysna which is 8 km (5 miles) away. Other places in and around Garden Route where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Plettenberg Bay which is 36 km (22 miles) away, George, Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn.
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