Surf Forecasts:
Bawa surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, SSW swell with 3,202 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bawa this week:
The surf forecast for Bawa over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 20s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bawa in the next 16 days are 2.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (WIB) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bawa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got in the water for the next couple of weeks at Bawa.
We’re talking about a solid, exposed reef and point break that handles a SSW to SW swell best, and it needs that offshore N wind to really shine. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.
Right out of the gate on Friday, 21 August, we have a standout morning session. The swell is a clean 7ft from the SSW with a very long period of 15 seconds – a proper groundswell with a heap of energy. The wind is glassy from light easterlies, making conditions excellent for experienced surfers. This is a bigger swell, over 5ft, so it’s not for learners. The long period means the sets will be well-spaced and powerful, perfect for a defined reef setup like this.
The rest of the weekend and into the next week is a bit of a write-off wind-wise. We get a consistent 6ft to 7ft SSW swell but the wind is either cross-on or onshore, making things chopped and marginal. It’s still there, but not the clean, glassy conditions you want. This run of average to poor quality goes right through until the end of the month.
There’s a two-day stretch in the middle of this where the wave energy drops quite a bit, with smaller 3ft to 5ft swell, still affected by that cross-on wind. Not worth paddling out for.
We start to see a shift on Monday, 31 August. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the SW with a very long 19-second period. The wind is light and onshore, so the quality is still not there, but you can feel a change coming.
And here is the one to circle. Tuesday, 1 September. This is the real highlight of the whole outlook. We’ve got a solid 8ft SSW groundswell with an 18-second period and the energy is huge. The wind is glassy – dead calm from the east. This is as good as it gets. Perfect, powerful, clean lines at Bawa. This swell is over 8ft, so this is expert territory only. It will be big and demanding.
That quality holds into Wednesday morning, 2 September, with a slightly smaller 6ft SW swell and another morning of glassy conditions. Wednesday afternoon still looks excellent with a clean, cross-offshore wind. This is the best run of the entire forecast.
Beyond that, through the end of the period, the swell backs off and the winds become a bit of a mixed bag again, with a few more glassy or light wind windows, but nothing that competes with that Tuesday morning.
So, to wrap it up: You can scratch around on the smaller days, but the real magic is the morning of Tuesday, 1 September. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu night, min 27°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2144 | 1787 | 3202 | 2472 | 2074 | 1690 | 1285 | 1059 | 893 | 2001 | 1830 | 1785 | 1631 | 1358 | 874 | 680 | 321 | 628 | 942 | 975 | 2110 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:03AM0.34m | 00:55AM0.53m | 12:10PM0.28m | 2:41AM0.54m | 3:34PM0.30m | 3:50AM0.59m | 4:31PM0.35m | 4:35AM0.65m | 5:05PM0.42m | 5:09AM0.71m | 5:35PM0.49m | 5:40AM0.76m | 6:03PM0.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:06AM0.31m | 4:29PM0.18m | 11:24AM0.28m | 5:37PM0.22m | 11:02AM0.23m | 8:03PM0.23m | 11:16AM0.18m | 9:32PM0.20m | 11:32AM0.14m | 10:23PM0.16m | 11:51AM0.11m | 11:03PM0.13m | 12:11PM0.08m | 11:39PM0.10m | |||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 14 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 16 |
2144 | 1787 | 3202 | 2472 | 2074 | 1690 | 1285 | 1059 | 893 | 2001 | 1830 | 1785 | 1631 | 1358 | 874 | 680 | 321 | 628 | 942 | 606 | 2110 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 19 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 8 | S 21 | S 19 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 |
284 | 904 | 37 | 34 | 39 | 37 | 332 | 767 | 670 | 19 | 28 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 57 | 36 | 198 | 187 | 336 | 975 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WSW 16 | W 15 | S 26 | SSW 24 | S 18 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 14 | WNW 10 | W 13 | W 18 | W 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | WNW 11 |
21 | 47 | 25 | 5 | 13 | 108 | 156 | 26 | 23 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 22 | 47 | 48 | 46 | 32 | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nias | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Indonesia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Bawa Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bawa provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bawa can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bawa 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 (Bawa) 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 Bawa 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Nias? If you are looking for accommodation near Bawa, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nias, consider staying in Afia which is 67 km (42 miles) away.











