Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s get into it. Rusty here with the rundown on Buffalo Bay Wildside.

So, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up over the next couple of weeks. The overall pattern sees some decent swell pulses, but the timing isn’t always perfect. We’re looking at a run of days where the size gets up, but the wind can be a little tricky. There are a few real standout windows though, so let’s break it down.

The first real chance for a surf kicks off on the morning of the 24th of August. We’re looking at a 5 ft southwest swell with a 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (723), so it’s not a ripper, but it's a start. The wind is light from the SW, almost glassy, which will keep things clean. It’s a bit inconsistent here and the crowd can show up sometimes, so you might have to share, but it’s clean.

The size bumps up on the 25th. The morning of the 25th has a solid 8 ft SW swell with a 14-second period, giving us strong energy (2533). The wind is a light cross-on from the SSW, so not perfect but still workable. By the afternoon the swell nudges up to 8 ft, same period, but the wind swings more SSE and picks up to 6 mph, putting a few bumps on the surface. That size is pushing into expert-only territory, so keep that in mind.

We get a cleaner look on the 26th with a 7 ft south swell on Wednesday morning, and the wind is a cross-off from the E at 16 mph, scrubbing the faces up nicely. That’s a good-looking 7 ft wave with strong energy 2060. The afternoon drops to 5 ft from the SSW but with a very long 16-second period, and the offshore wind holds. That longer period will make for some drawn-out lines, which is a bonus.

Now here’s the standout window. The morning of the 27th of August. We’ve got a 6 ft SSW swell (1413), a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy from the WSW. That’s about as clean as it gets. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and you can see why. That 6 ft is a manageable size for the experienced crew, and glassy conditions mean the faces will be perfect. The crowd factor might be an issue with conditions this good, but it’s the session to aim for. The afternoon holds on to a 5 ft S swell and stays glassy, so you get a full day of clean waves.

Friday the 28th keeps the fun rolling with a 5 ft S swell and clean cross-off winds in the morning. The afternoon drops to 4 ft, and the wind picks up a touch, but it’s still clean.

Things go flat and messy from the 29th through the 31st of August. The swell drops under 3 ft and the wind gets onshore or just messy. That first week gap is about three days of basically nothing worth paddling for.

September kicks off with a return of energy on the 1st. The morning shows a 7 ft SW swell with clean cross-off winds from the ESE (897). That’s a solid option. The afternoon the swell hits 7 ft and the wind remains cross-off, though a bit stronger. That is good for the experienced lot, but be aware that by the 2nd of September the wind gets a bit more tricky.

The big stuff arrives from the 4th of September onward. We see 10 ft SSW swells (2135) on the 4th, but the wind is onshore and choppy, turning it into a washing machine. Nothing recommended for paddling there. On the 6th of September, we have another 10 ft SW swell with light cross-on winds (3237), but the guidance specifically calls it too big for this break. That is a massive amount of water moving (6464 in the afternoon), and the break just can’t handle it. It’s expert territory, and even then, it’s a maybe. If you’re not an expert, don’t even think about it.

The final call on the 8th of September morning offers a 4 ft S swell with clean cross-off winds (328). It’s clean, but the energy is weak. A small, clean wave to finish the run.

If you’re picking your days, the standout is absolutely the morning of the 27th of August. That glassy, 6 ft SSW swell is the pick of the period. The 25th also offers a bigger, cleaner image, but you’re fighting a bit of cross-on wind.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty.

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