Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s brewing for Buffalo Bay Wildside over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water’s sitting at 60° – that’s a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so don’t be shy with the rubber.

Right now, at the start of the period, there’s a messy period. Thursday the 3rd is a write-off thanks to heavy rain and a strong cross-shore wind. We’ve got an 12 ft swell from the SSE, but the wind is a mess and the combined energy is a whopping 2193 – that’s strong stuff, but it’s just blown out and ugly. Not worth a paddle.

We start to see a glimmer Friday the 4th, with the swell dropping to 8 ft from the SE, and the wind turning cross-offshore. The waves will be clean, but the forecast is marginal. It’s a solid size, but the period is only 9 seconds, so it’s a bit short and lumpy. There’s a chance for a session, but don’t expect perfection.

Saturday the 5th sees a drop in size to around 5 ft from the SSW, with moderate cross-offshore winds. It’s clean, but the energy is low (664) and the scores are weak. A bit of a lull.

Now, Sunday the 6th is where things get interesting – and a bit scary. The swell jumps to 8 ft in the morning and 10 ft in the afternoon from the SSW. The period is a proper 19 seconds in the morning and 18 in the afternoon. This is a long-period groundswell. The combined energy is massive – 4449 in the morning, and a tanking 5769 in the afternoon. That is a lot of water moving. For experienced surfers, the afternoon is the standout, but at 10 ft, this is expert-only territory. The wind is cross-offshore, so the faces will be clean, but that kind of power at a break like this can be a handful. The long period will make it wall up, and it might be better suited to a point or reef than a beach break, but given the size, it’s a heavy drop.

The real gem in this outlook is Monday the 7th. The swell drops to a more manageable 6 ft in the morning and 6 ft in the afternoon, still from the SSW. But the wind goes glassy as a mirror in the morning – 3 mph from the ESE. The period is a dreamy 14 seconds. The water will be smooth as silk. The combined energy is still strong at 2352, but it’s clean and powerful. This is the best session on offer. If you’re intermediate and up, get on it. The afternoon is still clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, but that morning glass is the ticket.

Tuesday the 8th offers a smaller, more user-friendly option. Swell drops to 5 ft from the E in the morning, with glassy conditions again. The period is 10 seconds, so it’s a bit more playful. The afternoon is 4 ft from the SW with a 12-second period and clean. It’s a good day for a longboard or a funboard.

From Wednesday the 9th through the 11th, we hit a rough patch. The swell drops off, and the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, producing poor surf. The energy drops to the 200-600 range, and you’re looking at chop and wind bumps. Not worth a drive.

The 12th and 13th offer a slight return to form with waist-high, clean-ish waves, but the wind gets up again on the 13th, making it a bit of a battle. The energy is moderate, but it’s all a bit marginal.

The second week has a couple of promising moments. On the 14th, we get an 8 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period in the morning, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. The afternoon sees the wind go light and onshore, so it’s messy. The energy is high (3394), but the texture is poor. Then on the 17th, the morning is glassy again with a 5 ft swell from the SW at 13 seconds. That’s clean, waist-to-chest high, and the energy is healthy (836). It’s a solid option for that Thursday.

The 18th wraps things up with a 6 ft SSW groundswell (15-second period) and cross-offshore winds. The energy is 1811, so there’s some push. It’s clean, but it’s a longer-range call, so keep an eye on that one.

The standout for the whole period is Monday morning the 7th. That glassy, 6 ft SSW groundswell with 14-second periods is going to be pristine. The crowds might be around, but with that quality, it’s worth the company.

If you’re an expert and want to charge, the afternoon of Sunday the 6th is the one for you, but it’s a beast and not for the faint of heart.

Rusty.

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