
Surf Forecasts:
Riet River surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 4,810 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 12s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riet River over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Riet River. This is a point break that needs a specific SSW swell to really get going, and it’s inconsistent, so when it turns on, it’s a rare treat. The water is sitting at 64°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year – noticeably nippy, so you’ll want a thicker suit.
The first real action kicks off Wednesday morning, the 22nd of July. We’ve got a clean 6ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a 13-second period, and the wind is glassy – dead calm. The combined energy is strong at 1363, meaning there’s proper power in the water. This is excellent, but it’s a solid size for a point, so it’s for the experienced crew. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so expect a few others in the know.
Wednesday afternoon stays clean but the wind picks up to a cross-off at 12 mph, dropping the swell a touch to 6ft. The energy is still moderate-strong (1172), but the tide might be tricky.
Thursday the 23rd of July starts with a 5ft SSW swell and a gentle offshore breeze from the west. The period holds at 12 seconds, and the energy is 756 – moderate. Conditions are clean and very good, but the swell is easing.
Friday the 24th of July is where it gets interesting. The morning has a 8ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period, and the energy spikes to 4300 – very strong. The wind is a clean cross-off from the southwest. This is a standout session for experienced surfers, but the long period will make it a bit straight at times, though a point break like Riet River handles that well. Friday afternoon sees the swell bump to 10ft (4636 energy), but the wind switches to a light cross-onshore, putting a bit of texture on the face. Still, 10ft of long-period SSW at a point is a proper session.
Saturday the 25th of July offers a 7ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore from the NE. It’s surfable but messy, and by the afternoon a 16 mph cross-onshore makes it poor.
Sunday the 26th of July is small and choppy, with wind ruining the 5ft swell.
Monday the 27th of July is a better bet. The morning has a 5ft SSW swell with a cross-off wind and 813 energy. The afternoon cleans up nicely with a light cross-off breeze and a 5ft swell – very good, clean waves.
Tuesday the 28th of July sees a big 8ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and a massive 4648 energy reading, but it’s blown out by a strong cross-onshore wind. This setup is more for the kite surfers than paddle surfers.
Wednesday the 29th of July has a 7ft SSW swell with an onshore wind from the ENE, making it poor.
The best of the second week comes on Thursday the 30th of July, with a 6ft SSW swell and a clean cross-off wind in the afternoon. The energy is 1054 – moderate-strong. And Friday the 31st of July is a gem: a morning glass-off with a 6ft SSW swell and 1176 energy, and the afternoon turns glassy again with 5ft. Clean, lined-up waves.
After that, the swell drops right off. Saturday the 1st of August is tiny and blown out, and Sunday the 2nd of August is a weak 3ft clean swell but barely any energy (279). It stays flat and small through to the 5th of August, when a 4ft SW swell with a 13-second period and a clean wind shows up – surfable but small.
The standout in the whole window is Friday the 24th of July morning, with that 8ft long-period SSW groundswell and clean cross-off wind. And then Friday the 31st of July morning, with a glassy 6ft SSW swell, is a close second – clean, lined up, and perfect for a noon session.
Stay stoked, and don’t forget the booties for that cold water.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu night, light winds from the SE by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
830 | 905 | 802 | 658 | 2547 | 2553 | 4810 | 2230 | 1534 | 1346 | 1152 | 830 | 578 | 488 | 822 | 759 | 874 | 2136 | 1900 | 2104 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:48PM1.11m | 10:42AM0.94m | 11:28PM1.07m | 12:38PM0.97m | 00:57AM1.11m | 1:46PM1.07m | 1:54AM1.19m | 2:30PM1.17m | 2:35AM1.29m | 3:05PM1.28m | 3:09AM1.38m | 3:36PM1.38m | 3:40AM1.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:01PM0.58m | 4:25AM0.63m | 4:30PM0.66m | 6:15AM0.62m | 6:27PM0.66m | 7:32AM0.54m | 7:41PM0.58m | 8:19AM0.44m | 8:27PM0.48m | 8:54AM0.33m | 9:03PM0.38m | 9:24AM0.24m | 9:35PM0.30m | |||||||
— | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 18 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | ENE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 |
830 | 905 | 802 | 658 | 311 | 1596 | 4810 | 2230 | 1534 | 1346 | 1152 | 830 | 578 | 346 | 822 | 759 | 874 | 1376 | 1728 | 2104 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSW 16 | ESE 11 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | SW 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | — |
294 | 205 | 142 | 140 | 66 | 2553 | 47 | 219 | 152 | 192 | 83 | 149 | 266 | 488 | 194 | 99 | 53 | 25 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | — | SE 10 | — | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 15 | SE 9 | SSW 16 | S 18 | — | — | — |
6 | 26 | 53 | 55 | 14 | 49 | 46 | — | 89 | — | 2 | 35 | 18 | 222 | 3 | 206 | 160 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | WSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
4 | 17 | 51 | 61 | 2547 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 126 | 210 | 210 | — | 18 | 25 | 512 | 2136 | 1900 | 2078 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 110 | 0 | 0 | 167 | 191 | 123 | 110 | 4 | 5 | 369 | 16 | 16 | 125 | 0 | 123 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 329 | 5 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










