Riet River Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.58° S 26.93° E

Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 24 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Riet River sea temperature is
17.1°C
2.4° 

Riet River surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Riet River surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with 5,533 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period with SSW 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Riet River in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Mon 24th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s
Best Surf11PM (Mon 24th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 12s
Most Powerful 2PM (Wed 26th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s in store for Riet River over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a real mixed bag ahead, some proper gems and some wild, gnarly days you’ll want to watch from the beach.

Right off the bat, Monday the 24th of August isn't a total washout. We’ve got a clean 5 ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a 12-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. The water’s sitting at 63°, which is a solid 4° colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll definitely feel that chill. The combined energy is moderate (722), but it’s clean enough for a session. This is an inconsistent point break, so you might have to wait for the sets, but when they come, they'll be worth it.

Tuesday the 25th is where it starts to get serious. We’re looking at a 5 ft SSW swell with a very long 16-second period and light cross-off winds again in the morning. The energy jumps to 2293, which is strong. This is proper groundswell, groomed by that offshore wind. For an experienced surfer, this is a great call. The swell direction (SSW) matches the break’s optimum. The afternoon gets a bit windier, so hit it early.

Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th are a write-off. We’ve got strong onshore or cross-onshore winds, big messy swell up to 10 ft, and rain. The energy readings are off the charts for the wrong reasons. Don’t bother.

The First Standout: Friday the 28th of August.

After the blowout, we get a reward. Friday morning is glassy. Wind is basically non-existent, coming from the ENE at just 3 mph. The swell settles to a clean 5 ft from the south with an 11-second period, and the energy is a comfortable 599. This is clean, user-friendly surf. The glassy conditions will make it as smooth as butter. For a point break like Riet River, this is the pick of the first week. The water is still cold, so suit up.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th fizzle out. The swell drops, winds go onshore or cross-shore, and the energy tanks. By Sunday morning the swell is barely 1.0 ft and the energy is just 42. Not worth paddling out.

We then hit a pretty bleak run from Monday the 31st of August through most of the first week of September. Gale-force winds, heavy rain, and blown-out conditions dominate. There’s a massive 16 ft+ SSW swell forecast for Thursday the 3rd of September and Friday the 4th of September, but the winds are howling. Thursday has a gale-force offshore at 40 mph. Wave energy hits 13552 on Thursday afternoon. That’s dangerous, not fun.

The Major Standout: Friday the 4th of September.

Here’s the one that’s worth circling on the calendar. Friday morning the 4th of September is something else. A massive 18 ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period, but here’s the trick – the wind swings light offshore from the west at just 6 mph. The combined energy is an eye-watering 12580. This is exceptional, heavy-duty groundswell. The period is long, which suits a point break like this perfectly for those long, grinding walls. This is for experts only. If you know what you’re doing and you’ve got a big-wave gun, this is a date with destiny. The water will be moving, the paddle out will be an ordeal, but the waves will be world-class. After that, the weekend gets windy again, and the energy drops off through the second week, mainly offering marginal or poor conditions with onshore wind and rain from the 7th of September onwards.

So to wrap it up: you’ve got a clean, glassy Friday morning session on the 28th for some nice 5 ft waves, and then that massive, once-in-a-blue-moon window on Friday the 4th of September for the big dogs. The rest is mostly wind, rain, or flat spells. Keep an eye on that Friday the 4th, it could be one for the books.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, near gales from the ENE by Wed night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Sat morning, min 17°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the ENE on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri morning).

Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
4
3
4
0
0
0
0
0
4
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SSW
12
1.4
SW
12
1.8
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
16
1.8
SSW
16
2.1
SSW
14
1.6
S
17
3
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
13
2
S
12
1.7
S
12
1.6
S
12
1.4
S
12
1.3
S
11
1.3
S
11
1
S
11
0.7
S
11
0.5
SW
12
0.3
SSE
10
2.5
SW
8
2.4
SW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
710
549
936
1271
1518
1797
1532
4513
2022
1233
870
734
528
411
411
260
125
75
21
875
1070
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
SW
20
SW
10
NW
30
E
40
E
50
ENE
50
NE
55
ENE
10
WSW
5
ENE
25
ENE
20
NNE
20
NNE
20
ENE
40
WSW
20
SW
25
SSE
25
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
High Tide
2:19PM1.19m
2:21AM1.28m
2:47PM1.33m
2:51AM1.39m
3:13PM1.46m
3:18AM1.48m
3:39PM1.57m
3:45AM1.55m
4:05PM1.66m
4:13AM1.59m
4:32PM1.71m
4:41AM1.59m
4:59PM1.72m
Low Tide
8:08AM0.45m
8:19PM0.48m
8:36AM0.32m
8:48PM0.35m
9:01AM0.20m
9:16PM0.24m
9:26AM0.10m
9:44PM0.15m
9:51AM0.03m
10:11PM0.08m
10:17AM-0.01m
10:39PM0.05m
10:44AM-0.02m
11:09PM0.05m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
heavy rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:50
5:51
5:52
5:52
 mm
3
1
28
Temp °C
17
18
16
17
17
16
17
17
17
20
22
21
26
28
28
32
31
27
20
20
19
Feels °C
15
16
16
16
14
15
12
11
10
12
15
21
24
24
24
28
29
25
18
18
18
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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