Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking straight at the Riet River forecast for the next couple weeks. This is a tricky stretch of coast, and we’ve got a real mix of conditions coming through.

First up, the overall pattern: we’re looking at a bit of a slow start, with a lot of wind and messy surf before we get a proper window. The first real standout is a Tuesday morning glass-off, but the swell is small. The real juice comes in the second week, with a couple of days that look proper. Water temp is sitting at 64.8°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent suit.

The first surf worth mentioning is on Tuesday, the 8th of September. Early morning at Riet River, we’ve got a glassy 3.6 ft SSW swell. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s a clean groundswell that will wrap into the point nicely. The combined energy is moderate (485). The wind is 3 mph from the west, dead calm, and it’s a point break, so it’s generally a better shape than a beach break. It’s rated as inconsistent, so don’t bank on non-stop sets, but the conditions are clean.

Wednesday, the 9th is similar but smaller. Both morning and afternoon are glassy, with the swell dropping to 2.0 ft (SW) and 1.6 ft (SSW). The energy is weak (152 and 173). These are super small days, only really for a longboard or a funboard. The point will be clean, but you’ll be scratching for a ride.

Thursday, the 10th, the wind picks up, but it’s a cross-off shore, keeping the face clean. The morning has a 2.3 ft SW swell with a 13-second period, and though the energy is weak (194), the afternoon pushes that up to 3.6 ft SSW with a 15-second period and a moderate energy of 829. It’s a bit stronger, but the tide and conditions are marginal.

Now we get a few days of strong onshore wind and rain. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th are blown out, with strong winds from the east and ENE. The Saturday morning even has a 9.8 ft ESE swell, but it’s short period (8 seconds) and messy. Not worth paddling out.

Sunday, the 13th, is cleaner with a cross-off wind from the WSW, but the swell is 5.6 ft SSW with a 15-second period. Energy is moderate (1220). It’s marginal, but there’s potential for a few waves if you’re patient.

Monday, the 14th is the best day of the whole forecast. Monday morning: clear skies, 7.9 ft SW swell with a 10-second period, and a gentle cross-off breeze from the SW. The combined energy is strong (2878). This is a proper swell for the point, and the wind is clean. It’s listed for experienced surfers, and the swell is over 5 ft, so it’s not for beginners. The crowd situation is “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out, but it won’t be chaotic. This is the standout.

Monday afternoon stays good, with a 6.9 ft SW swell, 11-second period, and a light cross-on breeze. Still clean, but the morning is the pick.

Tuesday, the 15th, drops off quickly. Swell down to 3.6 ft, conditions are marginal.

Wednesday, the 16th, sees a return of a moderate 5.9 ft to 6.9 ft SW swell with clean cross-off winds. The energy is strong (1222 to 2021). This is a solid day, but not as pristine as Monday.

Thursday, the 17th, the swell is 9.8 ft SSW in the morning, but the period is short (9 seconds). The wind is clean cross-off, but at that size, it’s going to be a powerful, dumpy wave. Only for experts. The afternoon is 8.2 ft S swell, same period. Strong energy.

Friday, the 18th, is similar, with 7.9 ft to 8.2 ft swell from the SE and ESE, short period. The wind is still cross-off but getting stronger. It’s clean, but the short period makes it less ideal for a point break.

Saturday, the 19th, the swell drops to 2.6 ft. The wind is strong offshore, which makes it clean but hard to paddle into. Not really worth it.

Sunday, the 20th, is the last real standout. Sunday morning: glassy conditions, 9.8 ft SW swell with a 7-second period. The energy is moderate (873). That’s a big, short-period wave. It’s going to be a wall of white water, not a classic point wave. More interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, honestly. The afternoon is 11.5 ft SW with a 9-second period, clean cross-off, but again, that size with short period is a handful.

Monday

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