Surf Forecasts:
Bali Bay (Glen Reef) surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,785 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 13s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bali Bay (Glen Reef) this week:
The surf forecast for Bali Bay (Glen Reef) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bali Bay (Glen Reef) in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bali Bay (Glen Reef) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Bali Bay (Glen Reef) has in store for us.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. Right off the bat, Monday morning the 17th of August shows some promise with a solid 8ft swell from the WSW, with a nice long 13-second period and a light cross-offshore wind – that’ll keep things clean. The energy's pumping at 2528. This is definitely one for the experienced crew, though, as it's a bit meaty.
Things get a little tricky after that. Monday afternoon through Wednesday is looking pretty average, with onshore or cross-shore winds and a lot of chop. The swell sticks around but the quality just isn't there. By Thursday the 20th, the swell jumps up to 12ft from the SW, but it's too big for this break, so we'll have to give it a miss, even though the wind is favorable.
The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd is more of the same – surfable swell, but the winds are just not playing ball, blowing cross or cross-onshore, making for a lumpy, choppy mess.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. We’ve got a bit of a wait, but Tuesday the 25th of August is looking like a proper standout. The afternoon session brings a 8ft swell from the SW with a very long 20-second period – that's proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is massive at 5640. The wind is just a light cross-shore breeze, which is perfect. This will be the best shaped waves of the whole run, but that long period will make it grind a bit straight at spots; it's a reef break here, so it should handle it beautifully. This is the one to circle.
Then on Wednesday the 26th of August, we get a moment of pure magic. The afternoon goes completely glassy – zero wind – with a 7ft SW swell and a solid 14-second period. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That kind of glassy, clean surf at this size is a rare treat. The multiple standouts here are that Tuesday's long-period energy and Wednesday's glassy perfection.
After that, the final days of August fade out. Winds pick up and it gets choppy again. The first of September (Tuesday) shows another brief window with a 10ft SW swell, a 14-second period and a light cross-offshore breeze, but that's a full two weeks out, so keep it on the radar but don't count on it just yet.
Overall, it's a slow start, but the second half of the forecast period has two truly special windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2528 | 2026 | 1599 | 1216 | 2555 | 2379 | 1771 | 1550 | 1591 | 3785 | 2622 | 1713 | 1191 | 517 | 310 | 866 | 1638 | 2002 | 1597 | 1044 | 694 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:22PM1.64m | 6:39AM1.44m | 6:59PM1.51m | 7:19AM1.32m | 7:41PM1.38m | 8:14AM1.22m | 8:42PM1.27m | 9:53AM1.16m | 10:27PM1.21m | 11:59AM1.20m | 00:10AM1.25m | 1:03PM1.31m | 1:08AM1.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:02PM0.47m | 00:36AM0.54m | 12:35PM0.59m | 1:15AM0.65m | 1:14PM0.71m | 2:05AM0.76m | 2:09PM0.83m | 3:29AM0.83m | 3:59PM0.91m | 5:24AM0.82m | 6:03PM0.88m | 6:38AM0.74m | 7:07PM0.78m | ||||||||
7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
2528 | 2026 | 1599 | 1216 | 2555 | 2379 | 1771 | 1550 | 1591 | 3785 | 2622 | 1713 | 1191 | 435 | 310 | 866 | 1638 | 2002 | 1597 | 1044 | 694 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | — | — | — | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
— | 208 | 224 | 678 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 517 | 291 | 44 | — | — | — | 459 | 478 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 |
— | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 87 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | S 11 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 42 | 617 | 515 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 4 | 34 | 406 | 4 | 5 | 60 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 4 |
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Information about the Bali Bay (Glen Reef) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bali Bay (Glen Reef) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bali Bay (Glen Reef) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bali Bay (Glen Reef) surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Bali Bay (Glen Reef)) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Bali Bay (Glen Reef) may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.











