Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, with a look at what’s on offer down at Riet River (Riet-River). This is a classic point break that loves a SSW swell, but it’s one of those inconsistent setups – it doesn’t fire all the time, so when it lines up, you’ve got to be on it.

We’re kicking off on Tuesday, August 18th with a bit of a letdown. The early morning has a 3.3ft SW swell at 14 seconds, but it’s a marginal call with a cross-off wind and the water is a shocking 60.3°F, which is 6.8°F colder than normal – that’s way out of whack for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate at 551, but it’s not worth suiting up for. Tuesday afternoon pushes up to 6.2ft, but with a 20 km/h cross-off, it’s still just messy.

Wednesday morning, August 19th, is where it starts to get interesting. The swell jumps to 7.2ft from the SSW at 13 seconds, and the wind goes glassy – literally 5 km/h from the NNW. That’s a rare treat for Riet River. The combined energy jumps to a strong 1505, and the conditions are clean. This is a standout for intermediate-to-experienced crew, but keep in mind, at 7.2ft it’s getting a bit hefty for beginners. The long period is a bonus for a point break like this, meaning better shaped waves and longer waits between sets. Wednesday afternoon sees the wind pick up to 30 km/h cross-off, so get it while it’s glassy.

Thursday the 20th sees the swell build further to 9.8ft from the SSW, with a 13-second period. The combined energy is a massive 3597 by the afternoon – that’s very strong wave energy. But with a 25 km/h cross-off wind in the morning and 20 km/h in the afternoon, it’s clean but heavy. At 9.8ft, this is strictly for experts; beginners should stay well clear. This is a big, powerful groundswell, and on a point, it’ll be a proper show.

Friday the 21st is a write-off. The swell drops to 6.9ft in the morning but with a 15 km/h cross-on wind from the NE, and by the afternoon it’s 5.9ft with a 25 km/h onshore – that’s choppy and poor. Combined energy drops to 953 by the afternoon. Not worth a paddle.

Saturday the 22nd is a wild one. Morning has 7.2ft SW swell with a 40 km/h cross-off, energy at 1141 – clean but howling. By the afternoon, the swell hits 14.8ft from the SW at 10 seconds, with a 60 km/h near gale cross-off. The combined energy is 3704, which is very strong, but the period is short and the wind is insane. This is more like a kite-surfing show than a surf session. Forget it.

Sunday the 23rd settles down a bit. Morning has 11.5ft from the SSW at 12 seconds with a 25 km/h cross-off, energy at 3962 – still huge and clean for experts. Afternoon drops to 9.8ft with a 20 km/h cross-off, energy at 3214. Still a solid groundswell for the bold.

Monday the 24th is a step down – 6.6ft SSW swell at 11 seconds, cross-off wind, energy at 954. Marginal, but not worth the drive.

Now, Tuesday the 25th of August is another standout. The morning has 7.5ft from the SSW at 14 seconds, with a gentle 15 km/h cross-off. The combined energy is a strong 2050, and conditions are clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The long period (14 seconds) will give you proper groundswell lines on that point.

Wednesday the 26th is a mess. Strong 40–45 km/h cross-on winds from the ENE, with the swell dropping to 3.6ft. The energy is weak at 563 and conditions

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