
Surf Forecasts:
Rivermouth surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with 5,758 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rivermouth this week:
The surf forecast for Rivermouth over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rivermouth in the next 16 days are 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 1.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rivermouth over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what's coming our way for Rivermouth. Honestly, it's a bit of a mixed bag, and we’ve got to be patient. The next couple of weeks are gonna see some proper size, but the conditions are going to be a real challenge to line up.
Right now, the water is sitting at a cool 64°, which is a solid 4° colder than normal for this time of year. That’s a noticeable drop, so you’ll want the thickest rubber you’ve got.
The forecast starts off a bit flat for a few days, with nothing really worth paddling out for until we get to Wednesday, August 6th. That morning, we see a small window of opportunity. A 4ft swell from the East, with a period of 10 seconds (moderate energy of 346), but the real story is the near-glass. A light 3 mph breeze from the NNW is going to have the surface clean. It's not big, and the scores aren't off the charts, but for a quiet, small-wave session, that’s your best bet early on. The afternoon gets a bit choppy with a cross-breeze.
We then hit a lull of smaller, cross-swell energy through the end of the week. The swell direction swings to the SSW with a very long period, up to 15 seconds. That kind of groundswell is better suited for points and reefs, and at a river mouth, it can sometimes wall up or bend around. But with persistent cross-winds, it's not going to be clean. The energy values are moderate, but the quality just isn't there.
Now, looking further out, things get heavy. From August 10th onwards, we’ve got a massive pulse of swell hitting. It kicks off on Monday, August 11th with a 12ft South swell, but it's accompanied by strong onshore winds, making for lumpy, blown-out conditions. This is a full-on stormy setup, and honestly, with that much wind and chop, it might be more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfing.
The real behemoth arrives on Wednesday, August 13th. We’re talking a massive 21ft swell from the ESE with a 12-second period. The combined wave energy is absolutely pumping at 11070, which is intense. But here’s the thing: the conditions are calling for cross-shore winds, which would be okay, but a 21ft wave at Rivermouth? That’s for experts only. This is a massive, powerful swell. The same pattern holds through to the 14th, with waves well over 8ft. While the wind forecasts look decent, the sheer size will limit it to only the most experienced crew.
After that big event, the swell slowly drops. By Saturday, August 16th, we’re down to a 7ft East swell, and the wind is light. It's still a bit big for a beginner, but it's getting back into a more manageable range for the average surfer. We get another small, clean-looking morning on Sunday, August 17th, with a 5ft E swell and glassy conditions from a light Southerly. That’s a sneaky good option if the swell has backed off enough.
Bottom line: The first week is mostly small and bumpy, with only the early morning of the 5th looking clean. The second week brings a massive swell that is too big for most of us, but if you’re an expert and can handle serious size, the period around the 12th and 13th is where the biggest energy is. The end of the second week, around the 15th and 16th, looks like the best bet for the average surfer to find some clean, manageable waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, strong winds from the S by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
425 | 580 | 450 | 273 | 221 | 362 | 309 | 312 | 461 | 258 | 206 | 550 | 773 | 465 | 317 | 811 | 673 | 164 | 3052 | 5758 | 3862 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:09PM1.49m | 7:21AM1.27m | 7:53PM1.38m | 8:12AM1.14m | 8:56PM1.26m | 9:39AM1.03m | 10:42PM1.18m | 11:55AM1.04m | 00:36AM1.23m | 1:27PM1.18m | 1:48AM1.35m | 2:24PM1.36m | 2:40AM1.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:47PM0.21m | 1:24AM0.34m | 1:26PM0.32m | 2:15AM0.44m | 2:19PM0.45m | 3:32AM0.54m | 3:46PM0.56m | 5:31AM0.56m | 5:55PM0.57m | 7:11AM0.45m | 7:30PM0.45m | 8:11AM0.30m | 8:30PM0.30m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 10 | 4 | 5 |
Temp °C | 22 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 27 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 19 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SSW 15 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 10 | SE 13 |
425 | 473 | 450 | 273 | 221 | 211 | 53 | 312 | 461 | 258 | 206 | 550 | 773 | 465 | 190 | 811 | 169 | 135 | 81 | 132 | 113 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | E 10 | SSW 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | S 11 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 13 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | SSW 12 | — | — | — |
57 | 56 | 31 | 30 | 41 | 362 | 117 | 36 | 90 | 87 | 61 | 184 | 61 | 65 | 317 | 132 | 2 | 164 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 18 | SSW 15 | SW 11 | E 10 | SSW 15 | E 10 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 9 | — | — | SE 6 | SSE 6 | — | SE 6 | — | — | — |
— | — | 6 | 43 | 29 | 145 | 309 | 116 | 6 | 53 | 89 | 62 | — | — | 6 | 4 | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 10 | ENE 6 | — | ENE 6 | — | SW 6 | SSW 6 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 5 | WSW 2 | ENE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 5 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 |
— | 580 | 160 | — | 60 | — | 105 | 66 | — | — | 8 | — | 6 | 40 | 1 | 243 | 673 | 78 | 3052 | 5758 | 3862 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 76 | 41 | 31 | 360 | 1851 | 1828 | 918 | 498 | 458 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rivermouth Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rivermouth provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rivermouth can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rivermouth 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 (Rivermouth) 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 Rivermouth 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 - Wild Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Rivermouth, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, consider staying in East London which is 26 km (16 miles) away. Other places in and around Eastern Cape - Wild Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Butterworth which is 59 km (37 miles) away, Stutterheim and Bisho.











