Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on the menu for our local stretch.

First off, we’ve got a bit of a wait. The forecast opens with a few days of iffy conditions, but the real story starts to shape up around Friday morning, the 7th of August. That’s the standout window in this 16-day run.

The main event is Riet River, a point break that’s exposed to the SSW swell. This spot is inconsistent, so when it lines up, you gotta pay attention. The water is sitting at 60°F, which is a massive 7° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s a serious chill, so don’t skimp on the rubber.

The pick of the entire period is Friday morning, the 7th of August. We’re looking at a clean 7 ft SSW swell, with a period of 12 seconds, pushing a hefty wave energy of (1158). The wind is absolutely glassy – zero wind from the south. That’s a rare combo for this break, and it’s going to produce some long, clean lines. This is for experienced surfers; that 7 ft swell is a proper step up.

Thursday the 6th is a build-up day. The morning shows a 7 ft SSW swell (14 secs, 1598 energy) with a cross-offshore wind, but the forecast says it’s marginal. The afternoon gets bumpier with stronger wind. Saturday the 8th stays in the same vein, with clean but cross-off conditions and a steady 7 ft to 6 ft SSW swell. The energy is still high (1601), but it’s not quite the magic of Friday.

Sunday the 9th gets a bit wild. A 10 ft SSW swell (13 secs, 3355 energy) rolls in, but it’s paired with moderate rain and strong winds. That’s big, powerful stuff, and only for the brave. The energy levels are massive.

From Monday the 10th onward, the winds start to turn onshore, and the quality drops off. We get a stretch of poor to marginal conditions from the 10th through the 16th, with onshore breezes and choppy water. The swell drops significantly after the 14th, with tiny 2 ft to 3 ft waves and weak energy.

The last glimmer shows up on the 18th of August, with a clean 3 ft SW swell (12 secs, 464 energy) and light winds. That’s a small, clean day for the longboard or a fun fish. The 19th morning looks glassy again with a 3 ft SW swell, but the energy is low. Then the 20th brings a 8 ft SW swell (12 secs, 1534 energy) but with cross-onshore winds, so it’s messy.

The very end of the run, on the 21st of August, sees a 31 mph offshore wind whipping up a 5 ft to 6 ft SW swell. That’s near gale-force offshore – incredibly hard to paddle into, and not really a surfer’s friend.

So, the honest truth: you’ve got one true standout on Friday morning, the 7th. That’s your session. The rest is a mixed bag of onshore slop, big windy days, or tiny waves. This spot is inconsistent, so a blank run is pretty normal for the area. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it tends not to stay poor for long.

Rusty.

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