Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Riet River are going to test your patience. There’s a rough start, a few glimmers, and one clear stand-out window, but you’ll need to pick your moments.

The first real surf on offer kicks off Monday afternoon, September 14th. We’ve got a clean 3ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, but the energy is weak (307) and the water is a frigid 61°, a whopping 5° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a serious anomaly, so bring the thickest rubber you own. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze at 12 mph, which keeps things tidy, but the surf itself is pretty marginal and the spot is inconsistent anyway. You might get a few, but I wouldn’t call it a session to write home about.

Tuesday the 15th drops a touch to 3ft with an 11-second period, but the morning has a clean offshore wind (12 mph from the W) and the wave state is moderate offshore and clean. It’s surfable but very ordinary, so only the keenest are getting wet. The afternoon goes cross-shore and weak, so forget it.

Then Wednesday the 16th is where things get heavy – and not necessarily in a good way. The swell jumps to 10ft from the SW with an 11-second period, and the energy is strong at 2283. That’s a big, powerful wave. But with a 22 mph cross-offshore wind, it’s going to be a raw, challenging day. This is expert territory – over 8ft is only for the experienced. Thursday the 17th hangs around 5-7ft from the SSW, but the wind swings cross-on and then onshore, with rain. It’s messy and marginal, a far cry from what you’d want.

Friday the 18th through Sunday the 20th is a write-off. Onshore winds blasting at 22-25 mph, rain, and poor conditions. The swell drops off to 3ft by the weekend, but the wind is still howling. If you’re a kite surfer, this might look fun, but for a paddle surfer, it’s hopeless. There’s a gap of a few days here where I wouldn't even bother looking at the ocean.

Now, here’s the gem. Tuesday morning, September 22nd. The wind dies completely – glassy, 3 mph from the SE, with a clean 5ft SSW swell at a 9-second period. The energy is moderate (610), and the conditions are rated as "expect very good surf conditions." This is your window. It’s the standout of the whole period. Get out there early.

Wednesday the 23rd morning is the second best option. A clean 6ft SSW swell (12 seconds) with a light cross-offshore breeze (6 mph from SW). Energy is solid at 1145, and it’s rated as "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." Still a bit of size for the average punter, but a proper session.

After that, it’s a slow decline. The rest of the week into the following Monday sees onshore winds, building to 28 mph, with lumpy and poor conditions. The swell stays small and the wind ruins any chance of a clean wave. There’s another gap of about three days with nothing worth your time.

The final week, starting September 28th, brings another pulse – Monday afternoon sees 8ft from the SW, but with a 28 mph onshore wind, it’s a complete mess. Tuesday the 29th morning drops to 6ft but the onshore wind is still too strong. Don’t even think about it.

So, to sum it up: if you’re a patient surfer, you’ve got one clear morning on September 22nd (the best of the lot) and a solid backup on Wednesday the 23rd. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or a combination of both. The long-range stuff looks promising but that far out, it’s just a tease.

Stay warm, stay sharp.

Rusty

Read more