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Riet River Surf Forecast
/ Eastern Cape (S) (37 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Riet River surfForecast / Eastern Cape (S) / South Africa
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Tuesday 19 May 2026 SASTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Riet River surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Riet River sea temperature is
20.3° C
(Which is 1.6°C colder than average for this time of year)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 Thursday (May 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. 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 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 26) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 21st May) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sat 23rd May) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 26th May) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed night, calm by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat morning, calm by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | Saturday 23 | Sunday 24 | Monday 25 | Tue 26 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | S 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 5 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | |
362 | 412 | 639 | 109 | 141 | 181 | 96 | 81 | 73 | 22 | 188 | 257 | 290 | 169 | 151 | 282 | 558 | 465 | 2702 | 1463 | 902 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | |
High Tide | 5:51AM1.47m | 6:25PM1.40m | 6:41AM1.33m | 7:24PM1.31m | 7:41AM1.19m | 8:36PM1.24m | 8:58AM1.08m | 10:00PM1.22m | 10:30AM1.04m | 11:19PM1.25m | 11:50AM1.07m | 00:19AM1.30m | 12:49PM1.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:40PM0.21m | 12:07PM0.19m | 00:33AM0.33m | 12:58PM0.30m | 1:36AM0.46m | 1:58PM0.40m | 2:58AM0.55m | 3:12PM0.48m | 4:33AM0.56m | 4:34PM0.50m | 5:53AM0.51m | 5:47PM0.48m | 6:50AM0.44m | 6:43PM0.45m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — |
 | 5:16 | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 22 |
15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SSE 12 | SSW 12 | S 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
 kJ | 176 | 113 | 99 | 109 | 141 | 181 | 295 | 138 | 99 | 70 | 191 | 257 | 290 | 169 | 151 | 282 | 558 | 465 | 2702 | 1463 | 902 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSW 13 | SSE 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | ESE 12 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 5 | SSW 15 | E 11 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | SW 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SW 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 140 | 106 | 79 | 26 | 24 | 50 | 96 | 81 | 73 | 22 | 188 | 149 | 81 | 34 | 114 | 101 | 77 | 298 | 36 | 30 | 37 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 9 | S 16 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 11 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | SW 7 | SSE 13 | E 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSW 17 | E 10 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 65 | 33 | 21 | 30 | 22 | 10 | 59 | 115 | 72 | 98 | 27 | 64 | 112 | 107 | 107 | 166 | 30 | 54 | 16 | 15 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | — | — | SW 4 | — | WSW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 362 | 412 | 639 | 570 | 480 | 393 | — | — | 24 | — | 60 | 132 | 127 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 9 | 19 | 98 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 239 | 386 | 386 | 239 | 161 | 125 | 5 | 0 | 110 | 61 | 110 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 135 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 135 | 135 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Riet River surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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