Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather 'round, let's talk about Riet River. This is a point break that's inconsistent, so when it works, it's a bit of a special event. Don't expect it to be pumping every day.

We've got a bit of a slow start, to be honest. The first few days are looking pretty rough. This Sunday the 13th, there's some size with a 6ft SSW swell, but the wind is howling onshore and it's just a mess. The water's also a frigid 61°F, which is a massive 5°F colder than usual for this time of year – way, way colder than normal. Not worth getting out of bed for. That kind of wind and rain keeps us off the water right through Monday.

Now, Tuesday the 15th, we get a little flicker of hope. The morning sees a clean 3ft SSW swell with a light offshore wind from the west. It's small, but it's clean. The combined wave energy is weak (183), so it'll be a gentle session. Wednesday the 16th is more interesting, but tricky. We've got a solid 5ft to 6ft SW swell rolling in, with moderate wave energy (1047-1224), and the wind is cross-offshore, keeping things clean. But the quality is still just marginal; the tide might be playing games.

There's a bit of a lull, and then we get to the real standout in the longer range. Sunday the 20th of September is where it gets wild. The morning brings a massive 18ft SE swell, with a very strong combined wave energy of 7377. This is a serious, expert-only groundswell. The wind is cross-onshore, so it'll be lumpy, but the raw power is undeniable. This is a proper event for the big-wave crew, but beginners stay well clear.

Following that, Monday the 21st still has some good size, with 10ft to 12ft S swells, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds. That makes it more of a windswell, and with the wind still cross-offshore, it's another one for experienced surfers only.

The final worthwhile window looks to be Saturday the 27th. By then, the swell drops to a clean 5ft to 6ft from the SW, and the wind turns light offshore or cross-offshore. This is the pick of the bunch for the average surfer. The combined energy is moderate (669-748), but it will be clean, rideable, and much more inviting than the monster swell a week earlier.

Overall, if you're an expert, mark your calendar for the 20th. For everyone else, the 27th is your best shot at some clean, fun waves. The rest of the period is a write-off with onshore winds and poor conditions.

Rusty.

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