Riet River Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.58° S 26.93° E

Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 26 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Riet River sea temperature is
18.1° C
1.7° 

Riet River surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Riet River surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with 3,580 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Riet River in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Mon 27th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 30th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Most Powerful 2PM (Tue 28th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty. Alright, we’re looking at Riet River over the next couple of weeks, and it’s a bit of a waiting game. This point break is inconsistent, and it takes a proper SSW swell to fire. There’s plenty of energy kicking around in the first week, but the wind is a real bastard for most of it. I’ve got two standout sessions that are worth putting wax on your board for, and the rest is mostly junk.

First up, the first few days are a mess. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are blown out with strong onshore winds and rain, with swell heights ranging from 5ft to 8ft. The energy is moderate to strong, but the quality is poor. Wednesday the 29th keeps the onshore junk going with 6ft swell – just don’t bother.

Then we get the first real window. Thursday morning, July 30th, is the pick of the early week. You’ve got a 5ft SSW groundswell with a 13-second period, and it’s glassy – dead calm wind. The combined swell energy sits at a moderate 1454. That’s going to give you clean, peeling point waves. Riet River is inconsistent, so when the stars align, you get on it. Expect a few other heads out there, but the quality will make up for it. This one’s for the experienced crew.

Friday the 31st sees a drop to 4ft and the onshore breeze returns, making it only marginal. Saturday the 1st of August is flat-ish and windy – forget it. Sunday the 2nd tries to get going with a 5ft swell but a very long 20-second period, yet the fresh onshore wind ruins it. Then Monday the 3rd of August is the second standout. Morning brings a clean 6ft SSW swell with a 15-second interval and a light cross-offshore breeze from the southwest. The combined swell energy is a solid 1278. That’s perfect Riet River conditions – clean, powerful lines. Expect some crowds, but it’s well worth it.

After that, the second week gets more variable. Tuesday the 4th has a big 7ft SW swell but with strong winds making it marginal for the most part. Wednesday the 5th has a glassy morning but only 4ft of weak, short-period swell – a longboard day. Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th offer some clean-ish windows with 5ft to 7ft, but the energy is only moderate. Saturday the 8th brings a 7ft SSW swell with a 15-second period – that’s big, expert-only territory with light cross-shore winds. Sunday the 9th eases a bit. From the 10th of August onward, the swell fades hard to under 3ft, and the run is done.

So the two standouts are Thursday morning the 30th of July (glassy, 5ft) and Monday morning the 3rd of August (clean cross-off, 6ft). Both are for experienced surfers who know this tricky, inconsistent point. The water temp is about average for late July. The rest of the forecast is mostly waiting, with a few other mornings being okay but nothing special. Keep the wax soft and your eyes on that Monday 3rd.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun night, min 14°C on Tue morning). Mainly strong winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat afternoon).

Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
2
0
0
2
2
0
2
4
4
3
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SW
12
1.5
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
12
2.5
S
11
2.5
SSW
15
2.1
SSW
14
2
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
1.6
SSW
13
1.6
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
13
1.3
SSW
13
1.2
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
12
0.5
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
413
647
746
1783
2775
1822
1513
1002
965
905
919
805
690
587
403
297
245
222
66
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
40
WSW
30
SW
30
SE
20
ESE
20
ESE
20
E
25
E
20
ENE
5
NNE
5
NE
15
SE
5
SE
10
ESE
15
E
15
NNE
30
ENE
35
ENE
30
NE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
2:35AM1.29m
3:05PM1.28m
3:09AM1.38m
3:36PM1.38m
3:40AM1.45m
4:05PM1.47m
4:09AM1.50m
4:34PM1.54m
4:37AM1.52m
5:02PM1.58m
5:06AM1.52m
5:30PM1.60m
Low Tide
8:27PM0.48m
8:54AM0.33m
9:03PM0.38m
9:24AM0.24m
9:35PM0.30m
9:52AM0.15m
10:06PM0.24m
10:20AM0.09m
10:36PM0.20m
10:47AM0.06m
11:05PM0.17m
11:14AM0.05m
11:36PM0.17m
clear
clear
part cloud
mod rain
light rain
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:05
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
 mm
10
4
2
7
1
Temp °C
22
19
18
17
16
16
15
17
18
16
17
18
17
17
17
16
17
18
16
Feels °C
17
13
12
13
11
11
12
11
13
13
16
16
14
14
14
13
11
12
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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