
Surf Forecasts:
Riet River surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 4,015 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 13s period. 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) 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 2.2m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, this is Rusty, and we’re dialing into the Riet River (Riet-River) region for a long look ahead. The water’s sitting around average for this time of year, which is fine by me.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a dry spell. The first serious surf we can talk about kicks off on Monday, August 3rd, but it’s a real tease. The morning shows a small 2ft SSW swell with a long 14-second period, giving the wave some shape, but it’s blowing cross-onshore and the energy is weak (354). It’s a marginal call at best. The morning of Tuesday, August 4th is a little better with a 3ft SW swell, but the wind is still cross-shore, making for a choppy, messy look. Not worth paddling out for.
Now, Wednesday morning, August 5th, we get a brief flicker of hope. The wind goes glassy, dead flat calm, and the swell is a clean 4ft from the SW. The period is short (7 seconds) so it’s more of a wind swell, but with that glassy surface, it’ll be fun for a grovel on a longboard. The energy is moderate (365). This is a small window for the patient surfer.
But the real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Thursday morning, August 6th. This is the big day. The swell pumps up to 10ft from the SW with a solid 14-second period, and the wind is offshore out of the WSW at 15 mph. The combined energy is charging at a massive 4587, and the report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is a powerful, clean groundswell, but at 10ft, this is strictly for the crew with big-wave experience and the right equipment. Not a spot for the learners.
That afternoon on the 6th drops off to a 10ft swell with a shorter period (12 seconds) and a cross-offshore wind, still clean but a lot less powerful. The next morning, Friday, August 7th, the wind ruins it, blowing a fresh 19 mph cross-onshore, making the 8ft swell a lumpy mess.
The run of poor wind continues through the weekend, but we get another chance on Monday morning, August 10th. A 4ft SW swell with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW. The wind is light, the energy is moderate (620), and the surf is clean. It’s a solid, shoulder-high option for a fun session.
Wednesday morning, August 12th is a sleeper. The swell is 6ft from the SSE with a short 9-second period, but the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SW. The energy is strong (851) and the conditions are clean. Expect fun, punchy little waves.
The last real highlight is on Thursday afternoon, August 13th. The wind goes light out of the north (cross-offshore), the swell is 7ft from the SW with a short 8-second period, and the energy is strong (963). It’s clean and should offer some fun, punchy waves, though the short period means it might be a bit sectiony.
Outside of those windows, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, turning the moderate swells into choppy, poor surf. The long period swells (12-16 seconds) are a good sign for wave quality at a point break like Riet River, but the wind just doesn't cooperate most days.
So, lock in the big one on Thursday, August 6th for the experts, and keep an eye on Monday, August 10th and Wednesday, August 12th for the cleaner, more manageable sessions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Thu night, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Tue night, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
679 | 606 | 430 | 216 | 147 | 87 | 712 | 1313 | 1081 | 1046 | 215 | 357 | 292 | 292 | 287 | 217 | 143 | 568 | 1913 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:37AM1.52m | 5:02PM1.58m | 5:06AM1.52m | 5:30PM1.60m | 5:35AM1.49m | 5:59PM1.59m | 6:06AM1.44m | 6:31PM1.55m | 6:40AM1.35m | 7:08PM1.47m | 7:21AM1.24m | 7:53PM1.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:36PM0.20m | 10:47AM0.06m | 11:05PM0.17m | 11:14AM0.05m | 11:36PM0.17m | 11:42AM0.08m | 00:08AM0.20m | 12:12PM0.13m | 00:43AM0.25m | 12:45PM0.21m | 1:24AM0.33m | 1:25PM0.32m | 2:16AM0.44m | ||||||
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
5:30 | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 27 | 31 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 23 | 27 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 |
477 | 461 | 430 | 216 | 147 | 87 | 712 | 1313 | 1081 | 1046 | 694 | 584 | 618 | 388 | 367 | 320 | 164 | 568 | 1913 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | — | W 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | ESE 15 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | E 9 | E 9 |
679 | 606 | — | 6 | 11 | 25 | 242 | 74 | 158 | 172 | 215 | 357 | 292 | 292 | 287 | 217 | 140 | 133 | 133 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SW 12 | S 10 | — | S 12 | E 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | 30 | 16 | 86 | 139 | 2 | — | 3 | 39 | 22 | 82 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 10 | — |
— | — | 553 | 664 | 664 | 780 | 55 | 43 | 53 | 104 | — | — | — | — | — | 138 | 143 | 322 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 361 | 386 | 133 | 239 | 239 | 134 | 161 | 161 | 16 | 5 | 135 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 127 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











