Bawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break it down. Only one spot in the mix for this whole 16-day run: Bawa—a reef and point setup that’s very consistent, exposed to the southwest, built for advanced surfers. Water temp’s about 85°, right where it should be for this time of year.

First sign of life hits Friday morning, August 14th. A solid 6ft south swell with a very long 17-second period—that’s real groundswell energy, pumping a strong 2150 in combined energy. Wind’s a light 6 mph cross-shore from the west, so it’s rideable but not clean. The report calls it “marginal,” and the rain and clouds don’t help the vibe. Not a total loss, but not the best.

Then we hit a flat spell. Friday afternoon and all of Saturday are cross-shore or cross-on, messy, with the south swell dropping a little in period. Sunday morning, August 16th, is the first real standout. The wind goes dead calm—glassy, 0 mph from the east-northeast. Swell is 5ft from the south, period 14 seconds, energy moderate at 1073. The report says “excellent surf for experienced surfers,” and for a reef/point, that long-period south swell is going to wrap in smooth. This is a proper session. No crowds mentioned, so you might have some room.

The middle of the week gets bigger but rougher. By Tuesday afternoon, August 18th, the swell jumps to 7ft from the south-southwest with a 19-second period—very long-period groundswell, massive energy (3532). Wind is cross-on though, and the comment is “marginal.” Wednesday morning, August 19th, pushes 8ft from the same direction with 18-second period and huge energy (4293). That’s expert-only size, but the wind is again cross-on. If you’re a big-wave charger and don’t mind the chop, it’s on, but it’s not clean.

Thursday and Friday stay in the 7–8ft range, but the wind stays cross-on or onshore. Those days are looking more like a kite surfer’s dream—big swell, choppy surface.

The second week sees a drop in size. By Sunday morning, August 23rd, we’re back to 5ft, period 14 seconds, with light cross-on wind. Nothing special. Then Tuesday afternoon, August 25th, another standout: 5ft from the south-southwest, 15-second period, and glassy conditions from a light southerly. “Excellent surf for experienced.” Energy is moderate at 1044. Clean, solid, and worth the paddle.

Wednesday morning, August 26th, is also glassy, 4ft with an 18-second period (1586 energy), and the report calls it “excellent.” Then Thursday morning, August 27th, goes completely calm—0 wind from the north-northwest, glassy, 6ft south-southwest swell at 15 seconds. That’s the best of the second week: glassy, good energy, long period for the point to work its magic.

From there, the swell fades toward the end of the month, and the wind starts messing things up again.

So the bottom line: first week’s standout is Sunday morning August 16th. Second week hands you three good glassy windows—Tuesday the 25th, Wednesday the 26th, and especially Thursday the 27th. The big, dirty swells in the middle of the first week are for experts only and the surface won’t be pretty. Bawa is your one and only, and when it lines up with that southwest groundswell and no wind, it’s a beautiful thing.

Rusty.

Read more