Asia - Palmas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—the next couple of weeks at Asia – Palmas are pretty flat and disappointing for a proper paddle session. There’s no real stand-out window, but we’ll work through what’s on offer.

The water is sitting at 69°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year—8°F above the norm. That’s a proper anomaly, so you’ll notice the bathwater feel.

Right now, from Saturday afternoon the 29th of August, there’s some SW groundswell coming in at 6ft with a 13-second period. The combined energy is moderate (1139), but the wind is a light SSW breeze at 6 mph blowing onshore, and the forecast calls it marginal with questionable tides. Not great, but it’s the best we’ve got early on. This break is beginner-friendly, fairly consistent, and exposed to SW swell—direction’s spot on for the optimum. Crowds can show up sometimes. On Sunday morning the 30th, it drops to 6ft, period still 13 seconds, wind goes glassy from the SW at 3 mph, which is a major positive for cleaner conditions. Energy dips to 951, still moderate. Afternoon turns cross-onshore and choppy with S winds at 9 mph, so get out early.

Monday the 31st morning sees 4ft with a 12-second period, light WSW onshore wind, energy down to 539—still marginal. Through the rest of the first week into early September, the swell fades to around 2ft to 5ft with periods stretching from 12 to 18 seconds. Those longer-period swells (15–18 seconds) are groundswells and can break a bit straight at beach breaks, but Asia – Palmas is a point setup so they’ll shape up okay. Winds stay light and mostly onshore, keeping things messy. Energy peaks at 1163 on Thursday afternoon the 3rd of September (5ft, 17-second period) and again at 1363 on Friday morning the 4th (5ft, 16-second period)—that’s the best energy of the whole stretch, but the wind is still onshore, and the forecast calls it marginal. None of these hit a standout rating.

The second week drops off further. From the 7th of September, we’ve got tiny 2ft to 4ft waves with periods all over the shop—some long 18-second groundswell on the Monday morning but only 2ft, energy 666. Winds pick up to cross-onshore and choppy from the 9th onward, with S winds at 9 mph killing the shape. By the 12th and 13th of September, we see short-period S swell at 5ft–5ft with only 8 seconds—that’s weak, short-period windswell, and winds crank up to 12 mph cross-onshore on the Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. Energy stays in the 600s range, but it’s poor conditions for a paddle. Honestly, this setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than surfing on those afternoons.

The best you’re looking at is a marginal early-morning window on Sunday the 30th of August with glassy conditions and 6ft SW swell, or the Thursday/Friday run in the first week where the energy is highest but the wind isn’t cooperating. Nothing here is a true standout. If you’re desperate, get on it early—otherwise, keep an eye on the forecasts; things can change.

Rusty.

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