Keramas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty talking, and we’re looking at the waves for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of swell heading to Keramas (Bali). This is a reef break that’s very consistent, exposed to the SSW swell, which is the right direction. The water temp is about average for this time of year. The wind is the main factor here, and it’s a bit of a pain.

We kick off on Wednesday, August 19th, with a 7ft groundswell from the SSW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. The energy is strong at 3092. The morning has a light cross-onshore breeze from the SE at 6 mph, leaving some small ripples. It’s surfable, but not clean. By the afternoon, the wind picks up to 9 mph from the ESE, making it choppier. The swell bumps to 8ft but the quality drops. The tide is also a factor here.

Thursday, August 20th, is similar. The morning has a 8ft SSW swell with a 16-second period (energy 3216), but again that light cross-onshore. The afternoon is a downgrade. For the next several days, the pattern holds: decent sized swell, but constant onshore or cross-onshore winds from the SE. The swell is over 1.5m (5ft), so it’s not for beginners, and it pushes over 2.5m (8ft) at times, making it expert territory.

The best moment is probably the morning of Friday, August 21st. The wind is straight onshore from the SE, but the swell drops to 5ft with a solid 17-second period (energy 2213). It’s marginal, but if the wind shifts to the NNW, this place would be perfect. As it is, it’s a bit of a fight.

From Saturday, August 22nd, through to the end of the month, the swell is smaller, generally between 4ft and 6ft. The wind remains a persistent SE breeze, mostly cross-on or onshore. The energy drops from 2171 down to 668 by the 26th. The period is also dropping from 16 seconds down to 13-14 seconds, so the quality fades.

There’s a little bump around Friday, August 28th, with the swell returning to 7ft from the SSW with a 16-second period (energy 2341). The wind is still cross-on in the morning, but the afternoon sees a lighter onshore breeze from the SSE at 6 mph. It’s an option, but not a classic.

Into the first week of September, the swell is hanging around 4ft to 6ft from the SSW/SW. Periods are 14-17 seconds, so there’s energy, but the wind is still a constant SE breeze. This whole period is plagued by marginal conditions and questionable tides. Crowds at Keramas are “sometimes” busy, so you might have some company.

Honestly, if you’re looking for clean, glassy glass, this isn’t the window. The swell is there, but the wind is ruining it. The best of the bunch is the morning of August 19th with the big 18-second swell, or the morning of August 28th if you can handle the cross-on. The conditions are more of a workout than a dream session. It’s a tough stretch.

Keep your eyes peeled, forecasts can change. For now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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