Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming down the pipe for Riet River. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

The week starts off with a bit of a whimper. We’ve got some swell around, but the conditions just aren’t coming together. Friday the 28th has a clean 4ft S swell with a 12-second period, but the wind is a cross-off from the NNW (9 mph). The water is sitting at 65°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (546), but the tide and conditions are just marginal. It’s a frustrating start.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are write-offs, with strong winds and rain killing any chance of a decent wave. The swell drops right off and the wind is all over the shop. We’re looking at a gap of a couple of days with nothing worthwhile.

Now, Monday the 31st is where things get interesting. The morning session is the real standout in this whole outlook. We’ve got a 5ft SW swell (11-second period) and gentle offshore wind from the W (9 mph). The combined wave energy is a solid moderate 473, and with that clean offshore flow, Riet River will be well-shaped and clean. This is you best bet for the next week for sure. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and rideable.

Tuesday the 1st of September is worth a look, but it’s a step down. The morning has a bit of cross-on wind, though the swell is still there at 5ft. The afternoon shows a bigger 6ft SSW swell (12-second period) with a clean cross-off breeze from the SW (12 mph) and a strong energy reading of 805, but the scores are low, so don’t get your hopes up too high.

Moving into the second week, Wednesday the 2nd of September has some real size rolling in. We’re looking at a 7ft SW swell (13-second period) in the morning with gentle cross-off wind. The combined energy jumps into the strong range at 2610. It’s big, but those SSW pulses are packing a long 13-second period, which can make it a bit tricky at a beach setup, but Riet River is a point break, so it should handle it. This is promising, but it’s a week away, so keep an eye on it.

Thursday the 3rd through the weekend gets blown out by strong onshore winds (22-28 mph) and rain. There’s plenty of swell, with a massive 10ft SSW groundswell (16-second period) on the Wednesday afternoon, but the wind is on it and the energy is a very strong 5197. This is only for experts if it comes together, and honestly, it looks more like a kitesurfing setup for that period than a clean paddle session.

The following week from the 7th of September onwards is a bit of a letdown. Tiny wave energy (under 400) and persistent onshore or strong cross-off winds. There is a glimmer on Thursday the 10th with a 5ft SW swell and a morning cross-off breeze, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it will be weak and crumbly.

The Bottom Line: Monday the 31st of August morning is your clean, fun session. The 2nd of September offers size for the experienced crew, but it’s further out and less certain. The rest of the run is pretty ordinary. They’ll be some clean but small windows, but nothing to rearrange your day for.

Stay tuned, forecasts change.

- Rusty

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