Bali Bay (Glen Reef) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Bali Bay (Glen Reef). The water’s a bit on the chilly side at 57°, running about 3° colder than usual for this time of year – you’ll want a hood or a thick suit.

The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag. We’ve got some solid pulses of swell on the horizon, but the wind is going to be a real fight for a while. The first week is mostly mess with cross-shore breezes, so don’t get too excited just yet.

Sunday the 23rd kicks off with a cleanish 8ft WSW swell (1721 energy), but it’s cross-shore winds, so the surface will be a bit rippled. It’s rideable, but nothing to write home about. Monday morning the 24th drops to 6ft and still cross-shore, and the energy fades to 794. Not great.

The first real standout is Wednesday the 26th. Morning and afternoon both offer a clean 8ft SE swell (1636 energy) with light cross-offshore winds from the ESE and SE. That’s the kind of combo that will have the reef lines looking smooth. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit more walled-up and won’t have that long groundswell push, but it’ll be a fun, fast session for sure. Keep in mind that on a very consistent reef like this, you might have some company.

Things get a bit tricky again after that. Thursday and Friday are smaller with cross-shore winds. Saturday the 29th has a fresh 19 mph northerly wind, making things bumpy.

Now, looking ahead, Sunday the 30th into the first week of September brings some proper size. On Sunday the 30th, the afternoon shows a massive 12ft SW swell (4820 energy) with onshore westerly winds. That’s a deep water bomb, but the wind and the sheer size will make it a beast. Monday the 31st has a clean 8ft WSW swell, but still best for experienced crew given the power.

The real heavy stuff hits on Thursday the 3rd of September. We’re talking a colossal 28ft WSW groundswell with a very long 16-second period (37207 energy). This is a huge, powerful ocean. The wind is cross-onshore, and frankly, this wave energy is so massive that it’s really only for very experienced chargers on the right day. Friday the 4th holds similar size at 26ft with slightly better cross-shore wind.

For a final highlight, jump to Saturday the 5th of September. That morning shapes up beautifully: glassy conditions with a light SSE breeze, and a solid 10ft S swell at a long 14-second period (4642 energy). This will be clean, powerful, and for those in the know, it’s the pick of the whole run. That swell direction is way up around from the optimum for this spot, but when it’s glassy and that size, the reef will handle it.

If you’re a beginner, most of the bigger swells here (over 8ft) are going to be too much. The peak sizes around the 3rd and 4th are for experts only. After that massive pulse, the 7th of September offers a cleaner 8ft SW swell with offshores, easing things down a notch.

So, if you can, aim for Wednesday the 26th for a clean, fun session, or hold out for Saturday morning the 5th of September for that glassy, powerful groundswell. That’s the one that’ll fire.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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