Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been looking at the charts for our beloved Riet River (South Africa). This point break is a bit of a tease—it’s a beautiful setup, but it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect it to be pumping every day. We’ve got a mixed bag of conditions over the next two weeks, with a few absolute gems hidden in there.

The water is running at 60°F right now, which is a staggering 7°F colder than what’s normal for this time of year. That’s a proper chill, so you’ll want a decent steamer. It’s not just cool; it’s weirdly cold for August.

We start off with a quiet patch. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th are pretty flat and messy, with tiny 3ft to 3ft SW swell, onshore and cross-shore winds, and marginal conditions. Not worth paddling out for. The energy is weak (239 to 346), so don’t bother.

Now, Thursday the 6th is where it starts to get interesting. The swell builds to 5ft SSW on the morning, with a clean cross-offshore wind. That’s a solid size, and the combined energy jumps to 1009—moderate wave energy. The afternoon sees a bigger 10ft SSW swell, with the same clean cross-off breeze, but that’s getting into expert territory. Not for the faint-hearted.

But the real standout is Friday morning, the 7th of August. Glassy as a mirror—zero wind, 6ft SSW swell, period of 12 seconds, and a combined energy of 1033. That’s the kind of morning you dream about. The point will be peeling clean, fast, and fun. The swell is still big enough for experienced surfers, but the glassy conditions make it a dream. This is your best bet of the whole run. The afternoon holds up well too, with a gentle cross-off and 6ft swell.

Saturday the 8th gets ruined by a strong cross-onshore and onshore wind, turning the 7ft to 7ft swell into choppy mess. A hard pass.

Sunday the 9th brings a massive 12ft SSW swell, but with a 25 mph to 28 mph offshore wind, it’s a tough paddle. The waves will be clean but huge—only for the big-wave crew. The energy is very strong (3916 to 4128). Monday the 10th is a write-off with strong cross-shore winds and rain, making 12ft of S swell a lumpy, dangerous mess.

Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th are poor, with onshore winds and lumpy, short-period swell. The 12th does have a very long-period 22-second SSW groundswell, but it’s only 3ft and the wind is onshore, so it’s a waste.

Thursday the 13th morning is a hidden gem. A gentle offshore wind, 3ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and combined energy of 757. It’s clean, small, and glassy—perfect for a longboard or a fun mid-length. The point will be flowing nicely. Friday the 14th morning is also solid, with a moderate offshore and 3ft SSW swell. Good, clean fun.

The middle of the second week, around the 15th and 16th, goes quiet again with small 3ft to 3ft swell and light onshore or glassy conditions. Not worth charging.

Then, Monday the 17th of August morning is a surprise. Glassy again, 7ft SW swell, period of 11 seconds, and combined energy of 968. That’s a beautiful, clean morning with some punch. The afternoon gets a bit too big and onshore at 10ft.

Tuesday the 18th runs hot with 8ft SSW swell, clean cross-off winds, and very strong energy (3297 to 2334). That’s excellent for experienced surfers, with the point handling the size well.

Finally, Wednesday the 19th sees massive 12ft SSW swell, very strong energy (4668 to 4744), and clean cross-off winds, but it’s big and raw. Only for the hardcore with big-wave boards.

If I had to call it, Friday the 7th morning is the clear standout—glassy, clean, and a solid 6ft swell. The Thursday the 13th morning and Monday the 17th morning are also top picks for cleaner, smaller days. The inconsistent nature of Riet River means you’ve got to pick your windows, but these windows are worth it.

Rusty.

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