Surf Forecasts:
Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 2,007 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 2.3m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 1.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s look at what’s coming for Buffalo Bay Wildside.
First thing: if you’re new to this, maybe give it a miss for a while—this spot’s inconsistent, built for intermediate surfers and up. Water temp is about 61°F right now, pretty normal for the season.
The big news is a huge groundswell hitting Thursday morning August 13th. We’re looking at 5ft from the SSW with a 19-second period—that’s serious power, and the combined energy reads 4149 (strong to very strong). The wind’s blowing from the NE at 12 mph, offshore, so it’ll be clean. That long period means the waves will have shape but can run a bit straight on a beach setup. Still, Thursday morning is your best bet of the whole forecast. A real standout.
Thursday afternoon holds at 6ft from the SW, period 17 seconds, energy 3522, with the wind swinging east at 9 mph, cross-offshore. Clean again. Friday morning the 14th drops to 5ft, period 16 seconds, energy 1366, with a light N breeze at 6 mph, cross-off. Still excellent. After Friday afternoon, things get smaller and wind turns more onshore through the weekend.
Monday morning August 17th, another pulse: 6ft from the SW, period 13 seconds, 1389 energy, and glassy wind from the SSE at 3 mph. That’s pristine. This is your second standout—Monday morning.
The middle of the week gets messy with onshore wind and swell hanging around 5ft to 7ft, but quality drops. Friday the 21st morning cleans up a bit: 6ft, period 12 seconds, cross-off from the east at 6 mph—decent.
Then Saturday August 22nd, swell jumps to 8ft, period 14 seconds, energy 2854, but wind’s cross-onshore from the WSW. Big swell, messy conditions.
Sunday the 23rd looks great again. Morning: glassy, 7ft from the SW, period 12 seconds, 1152 energy. Afternoon: 7ft, clean cross-off from the ESE. Both excellent for experienced surfers. This is your standout for the second week.
After that, waves drop to 4ft to 5ft through the 25th and 26th, with some glassy mornings on the 25th and 26th—clean, fun, smaller.
Late in the window, Thursday the 27th afternoon shows 8ft again with 2489 energy, but onshore. Then Friday the 28th morning—10ft from the SW, period 15 seconds, energy 3359. That’s massive, but the file says it’s too big for this spot. That’s experts only, and honestly, it might be better for kite-surfing than paddling with the onshore wind.
So bottom line: Thursday August 13th morning and Monday August 17th morning are your top picks. In the second week, Sunday August 23rd is the one to watch. We’re far out on that one, so keep an eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | ESE 6 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2238 | 1314 | 954 | 696 | 535 | 471 | 357 | 57 | 525 | 456 | 1048 | 1387 | 1182 | 947 | 919 | 1103 | 1311 | 1521 | 1189 | 1147 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:18PM1.92m | 4:31AM1.80m | 4:52PM1.93m | 5:05AM1.75m | 5:26PM1.88m | 5:37AM1.66m | 5:57PM1.78m | 6:08AM1.54m | 6:27PM1.64m | 6:38AM1.41m | 6:58PM1.48m | 7:10AM1.26m | 7:31PM1.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:31PM0.03m | 10:39AM-0.04m | 11:06PM0.05m | 11:10AM0.01m | 11:38PM0.12m | 11:40AM0.10m | 00:10AM0.22m | 12:09PM0.23m | 00:40AM0.35m | 12:38PM0.38m | 1:11AM0.49m | 1:08PM0.53m | 1:49AM0.63m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 24 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 2238 | 518 | 412 | 257 | 535 | 471 | 357 | 370 | 525 | 456 | 1048 | 1387 | 1182 | 947 | 919 | 1103 | 1311 | 1521 | 1189 | 1147 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | E 8 | E 8 | SW 5 | ESE 6 | E 10 | SW 5 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 1314 | 954 | 696 | 173 | 136 | 7 | 57 | 127 | 23 | 99 | 123 | 110 | 75 | 50 | 49 | 280 | 30 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 8 | WSW 6 | S 12 | E 8 | S 10 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 138 | 26 | 3 | 43 | 2 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | — | — | SW 5 | — | E 8 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | — |
| kJ | 516 | — | — | — | 21 | — | 169 | — | 19 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 68 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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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