Surf Forecasts:
Bawa surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s 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★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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+) | 4AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bawa over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got the story on Bawa. We’re looking at a solid stretch of groundswell, but the first week or so is a bit of a tease – the waves are there, but conditions are holding them back. The real standout is way out at the end of the forecast.
Right now, the water at Bawa is sitting at 86°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so you won’t need any extra rubber.
The first real action kicks off Thursday afternoon, August 20th, with a 8ft SSW groundswell, period 16 seconds, and a combined energy of 3486. That’s serious energy, but it’s coming with a southerly wind onshore and the surf is labelled as marginal. It’s a big swell for a reef and point, so this is for advanced surfers only. Friday morning, the 21st, still has good size at 7ft SSW, but the wind is cross-onshore, and again, it’s marginal. This pattern of decent size but messy wind carries on through the weekend and into the start of the next week. The swell stays around 6ft to 7ft through to Tuesday the 25th, but it’s either cross-onshore or onshore, keeping the quality down. The energy is still strong, dropping from 2738 down to 1384, but the conditions just aren’t cooperating.
We get a bit of a drop mid-week, with Wednesday the 26th seeing smaller 3ft to 5ft SSW swell, and the energy drops to 557 to 766. It’s not big, but the wind shifts lighter. Thursday the 27th sees a pulse of long-period groundswell – 4ft to 5ft SW, but with a period of 18 seconds, giving a combined energy of 1800. That’s a lot of grunt for a small wave, and with light winds it could be fun, but again, it’s labelled marginal. The end of the first week and into the second week sees a similar story: decent 7ft SSW swell on Friday the 28th, but with cross-onshore wind, and it tapers off through the weekend.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. There’s a quiet gap in the action, but the true standout is on Tuesday, September 1st. That morning, we’ve got a 8ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 3608. The wind is glassy, and the surf is rated as excellent for experienced surfers. This is it – the best on offer. The swell is big, the direction is perfect from the SSW (which is the optimum for Bawa), and the glassy conditions will make it clean. The long period means it’s a powerful groundswell, so expect solid, well-shaped waves at this reef and point break. It’s going to be a bit of a crowd, as it’s sometimes busy, but for the advanced crew, this is the session to aim for.
Wednesday morning, September 2nd, is still excellent, with a 8ft SSW swell, 16 seconds, and glassy conditions again. The energy is 2750, so still a big day. After that, we get a shift to offshore winds on Thursday the 3rd, with a 6ft SSW swell and a northerly breeze, keeping things clean. That’s a solid option for the experienced surfer as well.
The last mention is Friday, September 4th, with a very long-period 3ft S swell, 22 seconds, and glassy conditions. The energy is 1419, which is moderate for that sized wave, but that long period means it’s gonna be a bit tricky – it might run too straight at the beach breaks, but Bawa is a reef and point, so it should handle it well.
So, to wrap it up: a lot of average days in the first week with size but poor wind, then a corker of a window around September 1st and 2nd. That Tuesday morning is the one to circle. The long-range stuff around September 3rd and 4th is looking promising too, but we’ll keep an eye on it.
Stay wet, stay keen.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 27°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | 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 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
3421 | 2479 | 2144 | 1787 | 3202 | 2472 | 2074 | 1690 | 1285 | 1059 | 893 | 2001 | 1830 | 1358 | 1472 | 1358 | 1047 | 680 | 326 | 628 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 11:26PM0.56m | 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 | ||||||||
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 | ||||||||
— | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | 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 |
3421 | 2479 | 2144 | 1787 | 3202 | 2472 | 2074 | 1690 | 1285 | 1059 | 893 | 2001 | 1830 | 1358 | 1472 | 1358 | 1047 | 680 | 326 | 628 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 8 | S 20 | S 19 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 8 | S 21 | S 19 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | S 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 12 |
47 | 37 | 284 | 904 | 37 | 34 | 39 | 37 | 332 | 767 | 670 | 20 | 28 | 55 | 19 | 20 | 25 | 64 | 64 | 187 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WSW 17 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WSW 16 | W 15 | S 26 | SSW 24 | S 18 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | — | WNW 8 | W 18 | W 18 | SSW 20 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | S 8 |
18 | 58 | 21 | 47 | 25 | 5 | 13 | 108 | 156 | 28 | 23 | 10 | — | 24 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 22 | 167 | 49 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 138 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nias | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Indonesia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











