Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Buffalo Bay Wildside.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things are shaping up. The water temp is sitting at about 63°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing weird going on there.

The first real chance for a paddle comes Monday morning, July 27th. It’s not a standout though. We’re looking at a 7ft swell from the SW, with a cross-onshore wind that’ll have it a bit choppy. The energy is moderate (1738), but it’s not going to be a pretty session. You might get a couple, but it’s more of a grovel than a glory run.

Monday afternoon the swell jumps up to 10ft from the SSW with a very long period of 17 seconds. The energy gets serious (6313), but here’s the thing – that’s big, and the data tells me it’s too big for this break. Even with the wind and tide looking favourable, it’s a pass for the paddle crew. This is more of a big-wave-only zone if you have the gear and the nerve.

Tuesday (July 28th) through to Wednesday (July 29th) the swell drops back to around 6ft to 8ft from the SW. The wind turns cross-offshore and clean. It’s consistent but the forecast quality is still a bit marginal, so think of it as a solid, workmanlike few days. Nothing that’ll get your heart racing, but better than sitting on the couch.

Now, the standout. Thursday morning, July 30th. This is the one. The wind goes glassy – dead calm from the east at 3 mph. The swell is a clean 5ft from the SW with a nice 13-second period. The energy is still moderate (1210), but with those conditions, the waves will be smooth and lined up. This is a morning for experienced surfers to really enjoy themselves. Glassy conditions are rare, and they’ll make this place look its best. Get out there early.

Thursday afternoon and Friday morning (July 31st) keep the good vibes going with clean, cross-offshore winds and a dropping swell (5ft to 4ft). The energy drops too (960-912). It’ll be fun for a longboard or a mid-length, but the peak quality has passed.

Come Friday afternoon, the swell shifts direction to the ESE and the period drops to a short 7 seconds. The energy is weak (839). This is a mushy, less powerful wave. Not great.

Saturday (August 1st) has a bit of a pulse from the ESE at 6ft, period still short at 9 seconds. Good news is the wind is light offshore from the NE in the morning and light in the afternoon. It’ll be clean, but the short period means it might be a bit fat and won’t have much push. It’s a decent option if you’re desperate.

From Sunday (August 2nd) into Monday (August 3rd), we get a bit of a downer. The wind turns cross-onshore and the quality dips again. The swell is around 5ft to 6ft from the E and SW. Not worth making plans for.

Then things get interesting again. Tuesday (August 4th) and Wednesday (August 5th) see a big pulse of SW swell. Tuesday morning is glassy, and the swell hits 10ft with moderate-strong energy (2723). But once again, for this break, 10ft is too big. It’s a pass unless you’re an expert on a big-wave gun. Wednesday afternoon the period jumps to 15 seconds, and you get an onshore wind. That’s a lot of water moving, but the quality will be compromised.

Thursday (August 6th) morning is back to glassy with an 8ft SW swell at a long 14 seconds. Energy is strong (2972). This is “excellent for experienced surfers.” That’s the second real standout. If you’re seasoned and wanting a challenge, this is your slot. The lines will be long and powerful.

The top pick of the whole outlook, though, has to be Saturday morning, August 8th. Glassy conditions, 8ft of clean SSW swell, and a very long 14-second period. The energy is very strong (3049). This is a proper groundswell hitting with excellent conditions. The data flags this as excellent for experienced surfers. It will be big, but the glassy wind will make it as clean as it gets. If you’re competent, this is the session to aim for. Just keep in mind that with that long period, it might be a bit more walled-up at a beach setup, but the payoff for those who find the right bank will be huge. Crowds are possible – when the conditions align like this, everyone knows.

Sunday (August 9th) holds on with a clean 7ft swell, but the wind shifts to cross-offshore, which is still good. The energy stays strong (2770). Good, but not as perfect as Saturday.

After that, the outlook fades. Monday (August 10th) is mediocre with cross-shore winds, and Tuesday (August 11th) looks like a write-off. A fresh cross-onshore wind at 18 mph with rain showers will make a mess of things.

So to sum it up: the best windows are Thursday morning July 30th for a clean, glassy small day, and Saturday morning August 8th for a clean, glassy, big-power session for the experienced crew. Everything else is filler.

Rusty.

Read more