Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

The 16-day window starts now, but don’t get too excited – there’s nothing worth paddling for until the weekend after next. The first run of decent conditions comes through on Saturday the 5th, and it really starts to build from there.

Water temps at Riviera are sitting at 77°F, which is a massive 9°F above normal for this time of year. That’s far warmer than usual, so you’ll be in boardies or a light spring suit for sure.

Saturday the 5th morning sees a 3ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore and the combined energy is moderate at 991. It’s marginal at best. The afternoon picks up nicely though – 4ft, still from the S, with a 14-second period, and the wind swings onshore light. The energy jumps to 1234. It’s still not glassy, but it’s the first real sign of life.

Sunday the 6th is the standout of the whole run. The morning brings 6ft of S swell at 14 seconds, with a light W breeze – still cross-onshore, but only 5 km/h. The combined energy is strong at 1528. By the afternoon, the swell pushes to 7ft, the wind goes light cross-shore from the NW, and the energy hits 1980. That’s a solid, powerful groundswell that’s got some punch. For Riviera, this is the best on offer. The long period (14 seconds) means the waves will have plenty of shape, though it might be a bit straight for the beach break. Still, at 7ft, it’s big enough for experienced surfers only – beginners should sit this one out. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so be ready to share.

Monday the 7th gets even bigger, but the wind turns to a moderate cross-shore from the WNW at 12 mph, and then 16 mph from the NW in the afternoon. The swell hits 8ft, and the energy is very strong at 3127 in the morning. That’s a lot of water moving, but the chop will make it messy. This setup might be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.

After Monday the 7th, the swell drops off quickly. By Tuesday the 8th, it’s back to 6ft with cross-onshore wind, and the energy falls to 865. From there, the rest of the 16 days dribble away with small, weak swells (1ft to 3ft), mostly cross-onshore or onshore winds, and poor surf conditions. The only tiny bright spot is on Wednesday the 16th afternoon, when the wind goes glassy from the ENE at 3 mph, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft. It’s surfable but very ordinary.

So, the takeaway: Sunday the 6th is your day. Get on it. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or just a waste of wax.

Rusty.

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