Rivoli Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, checkin’ in from the South Aussie coast. We’ve got a solid run of Southern Ocean groundswell lining up for Rivoli Bay, but it ain’t a simple one. The water’s sitting a bit warmer than average for this time of year, which is a nice little bonus for the first sessions.

The first chance to get wet is Friday morning, the 11th of September. It’s a bit of a mixed bag right off the bat. We’ve got a serious 10ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period rollin’ in, but it’s got a cross-shore breeze that’s makin’ it a bit lumpy. The combined energy is a strong 5871, that’s a lot of power, but it’s just not clean enough for a standout. The afternoon cleans up a little, but the swell jumps to 12ft SW and the wind turns cross-onshore with a gentle breeze. Honestly, it’s too big for the average punter, and the report says it’s too big for this break. We’ll leave it.

Saturday the 12th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning brings a 8ft SW groundswell, still a long 15-second period, but the wind is a clean offshore from the NNE at 12 mph. The energy is still strong at 3395. This is excellent, but it’s for experienced surfers only. The afternoon stays clean with a 8ft SW swell and a light cross-off breeze. If you’re a solid surfer, this is your window.

Sunday the 13th holds on. The morning has light rain but a clean offshore from the north at 16 mph, with a 6ft SW swell. The energy is still solid at 1697. The afternoon is clean but the wind picks up to a fresh 19 mph cross-off, making it a bit more of a handful for a 5ft SW swell. The energy drops to 1367.

Then we hit a big gap. From Sunday afternoon right through to the following Tuesday, the 15th, it’s a write-off. Monday, the 14th, is a total mess with fresh cross-shore winds and lumpy chop. Tuesday the 15th is a no-go – 13ft SW swell, 16 mph onshore wind, and the conditions are just poor. Wednesday the 16th is still too big at 13ft SW, with onshore winds again. Don’t even think about it.

The next real standout comes Thursday the 17th of September. It’s a fantastic morning. A 8ft SW groundswell rolls in with a 14-second period, but the wind is a light, clean cross-off from the ENE at 6 mph. The energy is moderate at 2080. The report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is another one for the crew with a few seasons under their belt. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-shore chop, so hit the morning.

Friday the 18th has a fresh offshore 19 mph wind in the morning, but the swell is dropping to 6ft SW. The energy is 1484. It’s a bit marginal. The same goes for Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th – the swell fades and the wind gets messy. The energy drops below 1000 by Sunday arvo.

But then, hold onto your board. Monday the 21st of September is the pick of the whole run. The morning has a 8ft SW groundswell, a 14-second period, and a clean, light cross-off breeze from the NW at 9 mph. The energy is a solid 2492. The report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle. The afternoon is also clean but the wind picks up a bit.

After that, the swell builds again into the 22nd and 23rd, but the wind turns onshore and the conditions get poor. The 24th and 25th are a washout with onshore winds and choppy seas. The 26th of September has a 8ft SW swell, but the wind is cross, and it’s only marginal.

So, the two true standouts are Saturday the 12th and Monday the 21st. Both are clean, powerful, and for experienced surfers only. The crowd at Rivoli Bay can be around sometimes, but with waves this size, you’ll have plenty of room. This is a heavy beach and pier setup, so if you’re not on it, it’s a kite day on those big, windy days.

Rusty.

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