Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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