Generals Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. First up, the big picture. We’ve got a real slow patch on our hands. For the first few days, there just isn’t anything worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny and the conditions are ordinary, so you’re better off sorting your gear or picking up a hobby. It’s a quiet start, and it’s going to feel like a long wait.

Looking at Generals (Bali), it’s a reef break that’s fairly exposed to the west-northwest. The water’s sitting at 81°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need much rubber. The first real sign of life doesn't show up until late on Tuesday the 4th, and even then, it’s weak. We’re looking at 2ft of SSW swell with an 11-second period, and while it’s glassy, the energy is just minimal, around 100. That’s not enough to get anyone excited.

The next few days are a write-off. Wednesday through to Friday are all small, poor surf conditions with light cross-onshore breezes messing things up. The swell stays under 2ft and the periods are all over the place, so there’s no consistency to be had. You’ll see the energy figures dip down to as low as 6, which tells you how weak it really is.

The first glimmer of hope shows up on Monday, the 10th of August. It’s still marginal, but the swell is starting to build. We’re looking at 3ft from the SSW with a 15-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, with some good energy behind it, around 334. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve seen. This is where things start to turn.

Tuesday the 11th keeps things around the 3ft mark with that same long-period SSW swell. The energy is still solid, around 313-333. Still, the winds are light and cross-onshore, keeping the surface a little bumpy. It’s not glassy, but it’s rideable. This is a good time for the intermediate crew to get out there and find a few corners.

The middle of the week, Wednesday the 12th, sees a slight drop to 2ft, but the period is still up there at 13-14 seconds. The energy is moderate, around 284. Thursday the 13th, the swell direction swings more to the west and the size drops a touch to 2ft. The period is still long, 15 seconds, but the energy has come down to the 133-135 range. It’s workable, but you’ll be hunting for the better sets.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 14th, in the afternoon, conditions go glassy. The swell is 2ft from the west with a 13-second period. The energy is around 155. It’s still small, but it’s clean, and that makes all the difference. Then, Saturday the 15th, we get the standout of the whole run. The afternoon shows another glassy window, with the swell bumping up to 2ft from the WNW, period around 15 seconds. The energy jumps to 265. This is the pick of the fortnight. It's not big, but it's clean, and that long-period west-northwest swell will wrap nicely into this reef. The wind is dead, so it’s going to feel way better than the size suggests. This should be the session to make time for.

After that, it settles back into a bit of a subdued groove for the second week. Sunday the 16th has 2ft on offer, but the cross-onshore wind knocks the quality down. Through the next few days, we hover around 2ft from the west, with periods around 13-14 seconds. The energy stays moderate, in the 213-263 range. It’s still surfable, but you’ll need to pick your moments with the wind. The last day of the forecast, Wednesday the 19th, shows a bit more life in the afternoon, with the swell pushing back to 3ft from the west, period 14 seconds, and energy at 310. It’s a promising end to the window, though the cross-onshore breeze might still be a factor.

So, if you’re waiting for the one to go off, mark your calendar for Saturday the 15th. That’s the day where the stars line up the best. Before that, be patient. There are a few workable days, but nothing that’ll get your heart racing until then.

Stay stoked.

Rusty

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