Bali Bay (Glen Reef) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into the surf for the next couple weeks.

The next fortnight is a bit of a mixed bag, so let's break it down. We've got a few windows of solid swell, but the wind is going to be the main factor in whether it's worth getting wet.

Starting this Tuesday the 18th, it's all a bit quiet. There's a 6.6ft WSW swell with a 12-second interval, but a SSE breeze is putting some chop on it, so it's not going to be clean. The wave energy is moderate at best. We see a jump in size to 9.8ft on Tuesday afternoon, but the wind picks up a bit, making it messier.

Wednesday the 19th is more of the same. Still a lumpy 8.2ft SW swell (1866) with a cross-onshore wind. Looks like a couple of days to sit on the beach, not much in the way of decent surf.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. Thursday the 20th morning. The swell jumps to a solid 11.5ft from the SW with a 13-second period. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the SSE, which is workable. The energy is strong (3844). However, this one is flagged as too big for this break. It's going to be a heavy, powerful wall of water, so unless you're a top-tier surfer, this is one to skip. It'll be a sight to see though.

After that, the surf backs down. Friday the 21st has a smaller 6.9ft SW swell, but the cross-onshore wind kills it. Saturday the 22nd starts small and weak, but the afternoon sees a jump back to 9.8ft with a more favorable cross-offshore wind from the NNW, making for cleaner conditions. Might be worth a look late in the day.

Sunday the 23rd has a clean 8.2ft SW swell in the morning with light cross winds, but it's not a standout. Monday the 24th is smaller and weaker, not worth the effort.

Now, don't sleep on Tuesday the 25th. The swell gets a nice bump in period to 14 seconds, coming from the SW at 7.5ft in the morning. With a clean, moderate cross-offshore breeze from the SE, this is looking like proper groundswell that will have some push and shape. This is one of the better windows in the forecast.

The rest of the week is a bit patchy. Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th see the swell drop in size and energy. Not terrible, but nothing to get excited about.

Here's the one to circle on the calendar: Friday the 28th of August. The long-range models are showing a significant pulse. We're talking a massive 13.1ft WSW swell with a very long 16-second period. The energy readings are off the charts (7724). This is a huge groundswell. However, the message is the same as the 20th – it's predicted to be too big for Bali Bay. The swell direction is good, but the sheer size and power will make it a dangerous, closed-out mess unless you know the spot perfectly. It's promising, but you have to be an expert.

Saturday the 29th gets blown out by a strong 25 mph SE cross-offshore wind. It'll be clean but howling, with a 9.8ft SW swell keeping the energy high.

Then we finally get the standout. Sunday the 30th of August. The wind drops right out, with a light SE cross-offshore breeze in the morning. We've still got that solid 9.8ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period. The energy is strong (3159). This is the best combination of size, period, and wind we've seen in the whole window. This is a proper day for experienced surfers. The lineup at Bali Bay (Glen Reef) will be firing. This is the one.

The last few days of the window fade out. Monday the 31st is a mix of moderate winds and an 8.2ft swell, but nothing special. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of September drop off in size. The very last day, Wednesday the 2nd, shows a small 4.9ft WSW swell, but the wind goes completely glassy. It's the smallest day, but it could be the cleanest if you just want some fun little waves.

So there you have it. There's a few days to dodge, but keep your eyes on Thursday the 20th if you're after a challenge, and definitely don't miss Sunday the 30th – that's the pick of the bunch. Friday the 28th is a big one, but you'd better be on your A-game.

Stay stoked.

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