Surf Forecasts:
Riet River surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 19s period, SSW swell with 1,482 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Riet River this week:
The surf forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riet River in the next 16 days are 1.4m 19s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ down at Riet River for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a waiting game, I won’t lie.
The first few days are just plain ugly. Wednesday and Thursday have strong, lumpy cross-onshore winds, and the surf is a mess. The energy is moderate (971), but it means nothing when it’s blown out. You’re not gonna find me out there. That bad stretch runs from the 12th through the 14th, so maybe catch up on sleep.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. A couple of mornings break the pattern. Saturday the 15th is small, only about 2ft, but that light southwest cross-off breeze makes it clean and glassy. Same deal with Monday the 17th—3ft or so, light wind, clean. These are your small-wave windows for the longboard and a few friends. Nothing to write home about, but they’ll scratch the itch.
But the standout of the whole period is Wednesday the 19th. The wind goes offshore that morning, a moderate breeze, and the swell comes up to a solid 6ft from the southwest. The energy is moderate (551), but the quality is what matters. That’s your main event right there. Dawn patrol, no question. It’s within the reliable forecast range, so I’d be getting amped.
Moving into the second week, it’s all a bit more speculative. There’s some size Friday the 21st—nearly 8ft—but the onshore wind is gonna make that more of a kitesurfing day. Then Saturday the 22nd has a serious pulse of energy (2037) with 6-7ft from the southwest and lighter winds. It could be good, but it’s far out, so treat it as a promising lead, not a certainty.
Don’t forget, Riet River is a point break, but it doesn’t break all the time. You gotta be there when it decides to work.
And one more thing: the water is mighty cold for this time of year, about 63°. That’s a couple of degrees below the norm, so you’ll be wanting the 4/3 at least.
Bottom line: dodge the junk early, grab a clean small wave on the 15th or 17th, and then go large on the 19th. The rest of the stuff is just talk for now. Keep it salty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 419 | 615 | 777 | 1008 | 1482 | 725 | 392 | 306 | 214 | 208 | 215 | 136 | 122 | 120 | 126 | 255 | 352 | 526 | 392 | 331 | 212 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 3:47PM1.65m | 3:59AM1.62m | 4:23PM1.73m | 4:34AM1.62m | 4:57PM1.75m | 5:08AM1.58m | 5:30PM1.71m | 5:39AM1.51m | 6:01PM1.62m | 6:09AM1.41m | 6:30PM1.50m | 6:38AM1.29m | 6:59PM1.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:33AM0.03m | 9:56PM0.07m | 10:08AM-0.04m | 10:33PM0.04m | 10:41AM-0.05m | 11:07PM0.05m | 11:12AM-0.02m | 11:40PM0.10m | 11:42AM0.06m | 00:10AM0.19m | 12:11PM0.17m | 00:40AM0.30m | 12:39PM0.30m | 1:10AM0.42m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | E 8 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 8 | E 12 | E 8 | ENE 10 | E 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 387 | 356 | 777 | 1008 | 1482 | 725 | 377 | 306 | 476 | 273 | 233 | 121 | 337 | 138 | 412 | 386 | 332 | 526 | 392 | 180 | 162 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SW 11 | SSW 21 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 16 | S 9 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 419 | 615 | 121 | 656 | 16 | 6 | 392 | 2 | 214 | 208 | 183 | 136 | 122 | 120 | 126 | 255 | 352 | 240 | 188 | 331 | 212 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | S 9 | — | — | S 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | SW 5 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 30 | 31 | 16 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 215 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 13 | 1 | 10 | 4 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | ENE 8 | — | E 8 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | S 4 | SE 4 | — | SW 5 | SW 6 |
| kJ | 643 | 509 | 469 | 480 | 642 | 637 | 481 | 513 | 630 | — | — | 169 | — | 333 | 18 | 38 | 6 | 9 | — | 89 | 183 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 386 | 386 | 138 | 369 | 329 | 161 | 16 | 142 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 123 | 125 | 0 | 329 | 0 | 190 | 124 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Riet River Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Riet River provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Riet River can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Riet River 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 (Riet River) 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 Riet River 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 Eastern Cape (South)? If you are looking for accommodation near Riet River, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Eastern Cape (South), consider staying in Port Alfred which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around Eastern Cape (South) where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Grahamstown which is 48 km (30 miles) away, Bisho and Fort Beaufort.
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