Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the stretch ahead. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with a slow start, a wild middle, and something promising on the horizon.

The immediate forecast is not looking great. For the first few days, we’ve got a small, weak swell coming in, but it’s fighting against a fresh cross-offshore breeze. The energy is weak (180), and it’s just not going to be worth your time. Thursday and Friday are looking pretty gutless, with poor surf conditions. We’re going to have to sit on our hands for a bit.

Now, the weekend rolls in with a bit more size, but the wind is awful. We're talking a proper onshore blow, especially Saturday and Sunday, with the swell building to around 6ft. The energy jumps up to a moderate 1587, but it's messy and lumpy. This is not a surf you want to paddle into; it’s more of a washing machine. If you're into kitesurfing, this might be your window because it's going to be blown out for paddling.

As we get into the start of the new week, the wind eases a little, but the conditions remain poor. Monday morning is still a write-off. The pickings are slim, and the energy is all over the place. It stays marginal for a couple of days, with a cleaner window on Monday afternoon, but the swell stays small and the quality just isn't there.

Now, hold on to your boards, because Wednesday the 16th is when things get serious. We're looking at a big jump in size, with the swell hitting 12ft and the energy shooting up to a strong 3086. This is a solid, powerful SW groundswell with a period of 11 seconds. The wind will be a cross-off, which is good, but this is well overhead and beyond. This is expert territory only. Anyone who isn't a pro is going to be in way over their head.

There’s a brief couple of days after that where the size drops to the 6-6ft range, but the winds turn onshore and ruin the party. It's frustrating because there's energy, but it's not clean.

Then, we have another monster pulse right around Monday the 21st. The swell is back up to 10ft with a very strong 3196 energy. The problem is, the wind is on it again. This is another one for the experts, but it's going to be messy.

After all that, the energy finally fades out. The last week of the window sees the surf dry up, with small, weak swells getting blown flat by strong onshore winds. It's a bit of a letdown after all that action. The long-range picture is pretty quiet, but these things can change.

Now, looking toward the end of the period, there is one light at the end of the tunnel. On Thursday, September 25th, the forecast shows a new, clean swell rolling in. The wind is forecast to be a *perfect* offshore breeze from the SW, and the surf should be clean. The swell is a modest 3ft from the SSW with a nice, long 14-second period. This is the kind of day that will make you forget about all the blown-out junk. It’s the standout day for me.

The only break on offer here is Riet River. It’s a point break, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. It’s an inconsistent spot, so don't expect it to be firing all session, but when a clean swell like that lines up with no wind, it'll be worth the wait. It's exposed, so it gets everything, and that SSW direction is right in its wheelhouse. Just know that with a good swell, it can get crowded, so don't expect to have it to yourself.

So, there you have it. A lot of waiting, a couple of big, gnarly days for the brave, and one glassy, clean session at the end. Keep your eye on the 25th. That's your day.

Rusty.

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