Balangan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's coming up for Balangan.

Right off the bat, we've got a solid run of surf on the way. The pattern is set with a consistent, long-period SW groundswell, and the wind is locked in offshore from the ESE or SE. That's a recipe for clean, lined-up waves on this reef. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days, starting Saturday the 18th and through Sunday, are a bit of a tease. You've got clean 4ft to 5ft surf with that lovely offshore wind, but the wave energy is moderate and the scores are just okay. It's surfable, but not the standout.

Things start to get interesting on Monday the 20th. The swell jumps up to 5ft from the SSW in the morning, but the afternoon is where it's at with a solid 7ft SSW groundswell (period 16 seconds) and a jump in energy. That's a proper push. The wind stays clean offshore, but the scores are still only moderate. It's getting there.

The real standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, kicks off on Tuesday the 28th of July. The morning has 5ft SSW swell with moderate energy, but it's the Tuesday afternoon that's pure fire. You've got 5ft of clean, lined-up SSW groundswell, a period of 17 seconds, and the wind drops to a moderate 12 mph offshore. The energy is solid, and the conditions are marked as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the pick of the forecast.

That quality carries into Wednesday the 29th. The morning holds 5ft SSW swell (16 seconds) with moderate offshore breeze and excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The afternoon eases slightly to 5ft but remains very good.

Then we look ahead to the end of the month and into August. The 31st of July and the 1st of August are absolute crackers. On the 31st, the afternoon delivers 7ft SSW groundswell (17 seconds) with excellent conditions. The 1st of August holds 6ft to 6ft SW swells all day with the same excellent quality. The energy is strong and the wind is offshore. This is world-class Balangan.

A quick note on the 26th of July: a 7ft SE windswell with a short 8-second period rolls in, but the energy is much lower and the quality is poor. That's a skip day.

For the beginners, stay away from the bigger days. Anything over 5ft, especially on the 20th, 31st, and 1st of August, will be a handful. The 7ft forecast for the 2nd of August is strictly for experts. Also, keep in mind that on those long-period days (over 15 seconds), the sets will be bigger and less frequent, making the paddle out easier but the waves more powerful on the reef.

The crowds at Balangan can be a factor, so get out early for the best of it.

Rusty

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