Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,241 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 14s. 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 13s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
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 for the next couple of weeks.
The water is a cold 59°, which is about 5° cooler than it should be for this time of year. That’s a noticeable chill, so don’t skimp on the rubber.
The week kicks off on Monday the 24th with a 5ft SW swell, but it’s got a light onshore breeze and the energy is moderate (1048). The conditions are just average, so it’s a pass.
Tuesday the 25th brings a big SW groundswell of 8ft with a very long period of 15 seconds. The energy is huge (3983), but the wind is messy, switching from cross-on to cross-shore. It’s a big, powerful swell, but without the right wind, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Now, listen up. Thursday the 27th is the day. The morning is a dead calm, glassy session with 6ft of SSW swell. The energy is solid (1347), and with zero wind, it’s going to be absolutely pristine. The afternoon is still clean with 7ft ESE swell. If you’re only getting one session, make it Thursday morning.
Friday the 28th is still fun with glassy conditions in the morning and 5ft of E swell. The energy drops a bit (923), but it’s clean. Saturday the 29th the swell tanks to under 3ft, so it’s a day for the small-wave boards.
The end of the first week and start of the second sees a return of SW swell, but onshore winds chop it up badly from Sunday the 30th through Tuesday the 1st of September.
Then the big stuff arrives. Wednesday the 2nd of September sees a massive 12ft SW swell, with colossal energy (3920). The wind is light onshore, but the size is just too much for this break. It’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s a gamble. The 3rd and 4th of September bring even bigger swell – up to 21ft – but with strong, choppy cross-onshore winds. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.
By Friday the 5th, the swell drops to a still-mighty 12ft, but the wind goes cross-off and clean. The following week, from the 6th to the 8th, the size settles into the 4ft to 7ft range, with clean, offshore winds. The quality is excellent for experienced surfers. The morning of Monday the 7th with 7ft SSE swell and a moderate offshore breeze is a standout in the second week.
The number one pick is crystal clear: Thursday morning, the 27th of August. Glassy, clean, and a solid 6ft SW groundswell. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the E by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | S 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 652 | 2323 | 3241 | 2509 | 1858 | 800 | 1038 | 1071 | 872 | 600 | 710 | 520 | 342 | 270 | 157 | 202 | 349 | 1418 | 1325 | 748 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:11PM1.34m | 2:15AM1.43m | 2:39PM1.49m | 2:44AM1.55m | 3:06PM1.63m | 3:12AM1.65m | 3:32PM1.75m | 3:40AM1.72m | 3:59PM1.84m | 4:08AM1.76m | 4:26PM1.89m | 4:37AM1.76m | 4:54PM1.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:15PM0.51m | 8:30AM0.35m | 8:44PM0.38m | 8:56AM0.23m | 9:11PM0.26m | 9:21AM0.12m | 9:39PM0.16m | 9:46AM0.05m | 10:07PM0.09m | 10:13AM0.01m | 10:35PM0.06m | 10:40AM0.01m | 11:05PM0.06m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Temp °C | 16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 24 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 16 | 13 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | S 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 16 | E 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 652 | 2323 | 3241 | 2509 | 1858 | 800 | 1038 | 1071 | 475 | 600 | 710 | 520 | 342 | 249 | 157 | 202 | 349 | 205 | 1325 | 748 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SE 11 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | E 10 | S 11 | SW 13 | E 11 | SSE 11 | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 394 | 4 | 742 | — | 350 | 768 | 447 | 149 | 872 | 423 | 596 | 403 | 284 | 270 | 151 | 170 | 163 | 22 | 125 | 64 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | — | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 17 | WSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | 382 | 388 | — | 127 | 414 | 11 | 47 | 121 | 158 | 164 | 82 | 68 | 22 | 10 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | WNW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 128 | 563 | 574 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 59 | 97 | 134 | 1418 | 1885 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 382 | 380 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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