Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.08° S 22.98° E

Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Buffalo Bay Wildside sea temperature is
15.7°C
1.6° 

Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Buffalo Bay Wildside surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 2,472 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period with ESE 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 (Sep 13) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.9m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Buffalo Bay Wildside in the next 16 days are 2.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) 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 3.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2PM (Sun 13th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Best Surf 2PM (Sun 13th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sun 13th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's look at what’s on the cards for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next couple of weeks.

The initial window is a mix of big, powerful groundswell mixed with tricky wind. Things start off on Sunday the 13th with a serious pulse of SW swell at 7 ft and a very long period of 15 seconds. This is proper groundswell, and the combined energy is ripping at 3130 (moderate to strong). That deep water energy won't always translate perfectly onto the beach, but when it lines up, it'll have some serious push. The morning has a 12 mph cross-off easterly, keeping things clean, though that size and period will be a battle even for intermediates. The afternoon drops to 6 ft but holds that long period, with a lighter 9 mph cross-off.

Monday the 14th is a write-off with a messy 7 ft cross-on swell and poor conditions. Skip it.

Tuesday the 15th morning is the first real standout. We get a drop to a cleaner 5 ft from the east, but the magic is in the wind. A perfect 3 mph westerly going glassy. The swell period is a solid 11 seconds, and the energy has dropped to 954 (moderate). For a break that can be inconsistent, this is that sweet spot of clean, lined-up waves that won't be too much of a paddle. Get that morning session.

The size bumps back up from Wednesday the 16th through Thursday the 17th with SW swell around 6 ft to 8 ft, but wind is mostly cross-on or cross, making it a bit of a mess. Thursday afternoon the 17th sees a clean-up with a 6 ft SW swell and a light cross-off breeze. Not a standout, but a better option in a choppy stretch.

Friday the 18th is clean with stiff cross-off winds (15-18 mph), but the swell is a consistent 6 ft. That wind will be strong, holding the face open, but it's a battle.

The big warning for the weekend. Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th see a new pulse of short-period ESE swell, building to a solid 10 ft. While the wind stays clean cross-off, the forecast is clear: this swell is too big for this break. At over 8 ft, this is expert territory only, and with a period of only 8 seconds, it'll be a messy, jacking closeout. Not good for anyone.

The end of the window brings the best of the best. Monday the 21st morning is textbook. A 5 ft SW groundswell with a 12-second period meets a glassy 3 mph SSE wind. The energy is solid at 1258, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the pick of the whole forecast.

Tuesday the 22nd has a very interesting 6 ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period and 2426 energy (moderate to strong). Clean with a cross-off, but that long period will make it break very straight on the beach, better if it finds a bank.

The real gem is Wednesday the 23rd morning. Another 6 ft SW swell at 13 seconds, but with dead calm, glassy conditions. Combined energy at 1545. This is clean, lined-up power with zero wind. Magic.

Thursday the 24th morning glass again with a 7 ft S swell, but that'll be on the bigger side. The afternoon has an ultra-long 16-second SSW swell pushing 2763 energy, but with a light cross-shore, it's less attractive.

Friday the 25th peaks again with a 10 ft SSW swell at 14 seconds and pumping 3557 energy, but the forecast says it's too big for the break. A shame.

The forecast rolls off late in the month with smaller SW swells and onshore winds. The last call on the 28th has a 5 ft SW swell with a 14-second period, but a cross-shore breeze will mess with it.

Bottom line: The start is big and powerful but tricky. The session to truly point to is Monday morning, September 21st for that perfect glassy 5 ft groundswell. The other standout is Wednesday morning, September 23rd for another dead-calm session with a bit more size and period. If you can only paddle out once, make it one of those mornings.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Sat night, calm by Mon night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 44mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the ESE by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
0
3
4
3
1
!
3
3
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SSW
16
2.1
SW
15
1.8
SW
14
2.5
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
1.8
E
11
1.6
E
11
1.3
E
11
3
SW
10
2.5
SW
14
2.3
SW
14
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.7
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
1.8
SW
14
1.7
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2472
1810
1303
1276
954
898
734
628
418
1522
2458
1948
1053
944
800
699
865
1344
976
Wind (km/h)
20
E
20
E
15
E
10
NE
25
WSW
5
SW
5
ESE
5
W
10
S
20
SW
10
SSW
15
SE
5
NE
10
S
10
ESE
10
E
25
ESE
30
ESE
30
E
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
4:36AM1.75m
4:50PM1.88m
5:04AM1.68m
5:18PM1.77m
5:32AM1.58m
5:45PM1.63m
5:58AM1.45m
6:11PM1.47m
6:25AM1.31m
6:38PM1.31m
6:56AM1.16m
7:13PM1.15m
Low Tide
10:35PM0.01m
10:38AM0.04m
11:02PM0.08m
11:05AM0.12m
11:29PM0.18m
11:31AM0.24m
11:54PM0.31m
11:57AM0.38m
00:21AM0.45m
12:24PM0.53m
00:52AM0.59m
12:56PM0.68m
1:44AM0.74m
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
heavy rain
mod rain
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:16
6:16
6:17
6:19
6:19
6:20
6:21
 mm
5
2
4
5
12
14
10
1
2
Temp °C
17
19
21
21
21
17
16
21
21
16
14
13
13
14
16
15
16
17
15
Feels °C
15
17
21
21
21
17
17
20
19
16
13
8
11
12
13
13
10
11
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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