Surf Forecasts:
Riet River surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, S swell with 3,260 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s period with S 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riet River in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Riet River over the next couple of weeks. It’s a mixed forecast, with a couple of real windows of opportunity if you’re willing to be patient.
The water is sitting at 64°, a bit cooler than average for this time of year.
Right now, Monday the 7th is a no-go. Strong cross-onshore winds from the ENE at 28 mph are tearing into a solid 8ft south swell (combined energy of 2441). Total mess.
Things clean right up on Tuesday morning the 8th. Glassy conditions with a light northerly breeze at 3 mph, cleaning up a nice 4ft groundswell from the south with a 12-second period. Moderate energy at 485. Small, but perfect glass. Get it while it’s clean.
Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are small and average. Thursday afternoon sees a long 18-second period groundswell at 3ft (690 combined energy) with clean offshores – it’ll wrap nicely around the point.
Friday the 11th through the weekend is blown out. Hold off.
The first real highlight is Sunday the 13th. The afternoon is a treat: zero wind, glassy, with a solid 5ft, 14-second SSW groundswell (834 combined energy). Clean, long lines. This is the one to aim for.
Early in the second week, Wednesday the 16th looks promising but uncertain. Morning sees 10ft of SW groundswell (3344 combined energy) with clean cross-off winds – expert-only territory. By the afternoon, it’s 12ft (5161 combined energy). That’s big, powerful surf.
The rest of the run is small or blown out. Friday the 20th has a fierce 28 mph offshore wind grooming a 3ft, 16-second groundswell (459 combined energy), but paddling out will be a mission.
Best bets: Tuesday morning the 8th for small, glassy waves, and Sunday afternoon the 13th for clean, long-period point surf. The big Wednesday the 16th is for experienced surfers only.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Thu night, strong winds from the ENE by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2441 | 1779 | 771 | 347 | 230 | 144 | 97 | 118 | 326 | 128 | 503 | 1241 | 811 | 623 | 449 | 289 | 270 | 902 | 1065 | 834 | 643 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:30PM1.24m | 1:47AM1.32m | 2:15PM1.43m | 2:29AM1.45m | 2:52PM1.60m | 3:05AM1.55m | 3:25PM1.71m | 3:38AM1.60m | 3:57PM1.77m | 4:09AM1.62m | 4:27PM1.77m | 4:39AM1.59m | 4:55PM1.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:41PM0.41m | 8:01AM0.27m | 8:26PM0.24m | 8:38AM0.13m | 9:04PM0.12m | 9:12AM0.03m | 9:37PM0.03m | 9:42AM-0.03m | 10:08PM-0.00m | 10:12AM-0.04m | 10:37PM0.01m | 10:40AM-0.00m | 11:05PM0.06m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Temp °C | 19 | 21 | 20 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 26 | 19 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 18 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 25 | 27 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2441 | 1779 | 771 | 560 | 413 | 413 | 374 | 383 | 374 | 266 | 266 | 1241 | 811 | 623 | 449 | 289 | 270 | 902 | 1016 | 822 | 486 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 11 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SE 10 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 7 | SW 15 | S 21 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | — | — | 167 | 347 | 230 | 144 | 97 | 118 | 23 | 128 | 503 | 216 | 146 | 116 | 105 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 1065 | 834 | 643 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 11 | SW 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SW 11 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SW 12 | SSW 5 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | — | SW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 156 | 138 | 77 | 86 | 55 | 57 | 23 | 17 | 187 | 39 | 35 | 39 | 7 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | ENE 9 | SW 13 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | — | — | ESE 4 | ENE 5 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 9 | — |
| kJ | 455 | 1001 | 1023 | — | 541 | 554 | — | 525 | 326 | 71 | 42 | — | — | 13 | 108 | 467 | 750 | 1448 | — | 1102 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 361 | 386 | 16 | 0 | 135 | 5 | 0 | 190 | 61 | 123 | 167 | 20 | 135 | 369 | 329 | 329 | 329 | 161 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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