Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Riet River over the next 16 days. The guidance had this spot down as a standout with good potential, and when you look at the bigger picture, there’s definitely some juice coming, but patience is the name of the game. The first week or so is a write-off, and then we’ve got a couple of promising windows that could be worth the wait.

The forecast starts with a pretty grim run. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are both a no-go. The swell is there, with a solid 10ft S swell early on Tuesday, but it’s a 15-second period groundswell—that’s long-period energy, which usually means better shape and more power, but the wind is a messy cross-on or onshore, and the water is choppy. The combined energy is a massive 4041, which is very strong, but it’s just not clean. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. Thursday the 30th is marginal at best, with 5-5ft SSW swell and a 13-second period, but the wind is still cross-on, so it’s a 2/10 day, not worth paddling out for.

The bigger issue is that from Friday the 31st through to the end of the first week, the swell drops way off. By Saturday the 1st of August, we’re looking at 2ft waves with a 12-second period, and the wind is a strong breeze—messy and lumpy. The combined energy is down to 108, which is weak. That’s a long gap of poor surf, and it stays small and weak until about Sunday the 2nd. There’s a glimmer on Monday the 3rd of August, when the wind goes glassy, but the swell is only 3ft with a 12-second period and a combined energy of 418. That’s clean, but it’s small. Not a standout, but it’s the first time you could actually enjoy a few waves.

Now, the real standout is shaping up for the second week. On Thursday the 6th of August, the swell jumps back up to 8ft from the SSW, with a 13-second period and a combined energy of 2009. The wind is cross, but it’s light, so it’s clean. This is getting into the territory where it’s too big for beginners—over 8ft would be expert-only, so at 8ft it’s more intermediate upwards. The best of the stretch looks like Tuesday the 11th of August. The morning session has a 8ft SW swell, a 12-second period, and a combined energy of 1580, with a light cross-off wind. The data says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and when you pair that with the swell direction (SSW, which matches the optimum for Riet River), it’s a proper call. The point break will handle that long-period energy well, and the wind is clean. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon on the 11th is still good, but the wind swings onshore, so the morning is the pick.

A couple of other days in the second week worth noting: Friday the 7th of August has 8ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is a fresh breeze, which makes it a bit lumpy. Still, the combined energy is 2942, so there’s plenty of power. Wednesday the 12th has 7ft SSW swell, but it’s a cross-shore wind, so it’s not as clean as the 11th. The 11th of August morning is the clear winner.

Crowds at Riet River can be a factor—it’s a “sometimes” spot, so it’s not always packed, but if it’s firing like it looks on the 11th, expect a few heads out. The break is inconsistent, so when it’s on, it draws a crew. The point break setup means the long-period swell will peel nicely, but it’s a big wave for the average punter. If you’re out there on the 11th, you’ll be in for a treat.

Rusty.

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