Surf Forecasts:
Riet River surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, SSW swell with 7,266 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with SSE 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riet River in the next 16 days are 3.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here with the Riet River outlook. This point break is a bit of a hidden gem – inconsistent, but when it fires it's a treat. The water's sitting at 63.5°F right now, which is a solid 4.3°F colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want a good thick wetsuit.
We've got a stretch of surf coming up, but the real quality is concentrated in a few windows. The first action kicks off Sunday morning, 19 July, with a clean 4.6ft swell from the SSE, period 10 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. Combined energy is moderate at 832. Not huge, but rideable. By Sunday afternoon the swell picks up a touch to 5.2ft, though the wind gets a bit stronger – still cross-off though. Monday morning 20 July is a standout: 8.2ft from the WSW with a solid 9-second period and offshore wind. That's a proper punch at 2559 combined energy – excellent for experienced surfers, but beginners should sit this one out. Monday afternoon drops to 5.2ft but the period stretches to 11 seconds, still clean and cross-off.
Tuesday 21 July morning is glassy with a tiny 3.0ft SSW groundswell, period 16 seconds – very long period. That's a point break dream, but the size is small. The combined energy is 976, moderate. Tuesday afternoon it jumps to 5.6ft but the wind goes onshore, so not ideal.
Wednesday 22 July morning is another glassy gem: 5.9ft SSW at 13 seconds, clean as a whistle. Combined energy 1335 – strong. Wednesday afternoon stays clean with a cross-off. Thursday 23 July has a 6.9ft SW swell but with a short 8-second period and fresh offshore wind at 19 mph – that's a
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sun night, calm by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 10 | SE 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 8 | SW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 371 | 441 | 1278 | 1256 | 629 | 497 | 400 | 1204 | 1668 | 1083 | 759 | 703 | 593 | 1309 | 3324 | 5892 | 3956 | 2329 | 2671 | 2349 | 1487 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:18PM1.46m | 7:25AM1.23m | 7:58PM1.34m | 8:07AM1.11m | 8:43PM1.22m | 9:04AM1.01m | 9:48PM1.11m | 10:42AM0.94m | 11:28PM1.07m | 12:38PM0.97m | 00:57AM1.11m | 1:46PM1.07m | 1:54AM1.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:52PM0.20m | 1:31AM0.37m | 1:28PM0.33m | 2:13AM0.48m | 2:08PM0.46m | 3:06AM0.57m | 3:01PM0.58m | 4:25AM0.63m | 4:30PM0.66m | 6:15AM0.62m | 6:27PM0.66m | 7:32AM0.54m | 7:41PM0.58m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 321 | 441 | 551 | 723 | 629 | 423 | 360 | 1204 | 1668 | 1083 | 759 | 703 | 399 | 66 | 3324 | 5892 | 3956 | 2329 | 2671 | 2349 | 1487 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SW 12 | S 10 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SW 10 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ENE 8 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 371 | 149 | 30 | 580 | 570 | 497 | 216 | 283 | 211 | 252 | 144 | 142 | 91 | 13 | 60 | 47 | 47 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 140 | 48 | 33 | 33 | 18 | 72 | 400 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 43 | 29 | 25 | 16 | 6 | — | — | 29 | 11 | 10 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 9 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 10 | — | — | — | E 4 | — | — | SW 6 | SW 8 | SW 10 | — | — | ENE 4 | — | — | — | ENE 10 |
| kJ | — | 210 | 1278 | 1256 | 573 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 159 | 593 | 1309 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | 19 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 88 | 137 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 329 | 124 | 190 | 0 | 96 | 126 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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