Ketewel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s brewing for Ketewel over the next couple weeks.

Right now, we’re in a rough spot. From Friday 3 July through Sunday 5 July, there’s solid SSW swell running 6 ft to 6 ft, with long periods of 14 to 16 seconds – plenty of energy (1318 to 1661). But the wind’s either onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy and ugly. The reports say marginal or poor. Not worth the paddle.

Monday 6 July to Thursday 9 July keeps the same theme: swell from the SSW at 4 ft to 6 ft, periods up to 16 seconds, and combined energy climbing to 2035 – that’s powerful stuff. But the wind stays stubbornly cross-onshore from the ESE or SE at 12 to 13 mph, tearing up the surface. The wave comment keeps calling it poor or marginal. It’s a tease.

Friday 10 July to Sunday 12 July the swell fades, from 5 ft down to 3 ft, energy dropping to 356. Wind stays cross-onshore through Friday and Saturday, with poor conditions. Sunday afternoon the wind turns onshore, but the swell’s tiny.

Here’s the first real hope: Monday 13 July through Wednesday 15 July the winds ease to light or gentle breezes, around 6 mph, and we start seeing more onshore winds. Swell builds back to 4 ft to 6 ft, with periods of 14 to 16 seconds and energy up to 1567. The comments say marginal with questionable tide, but the light wind could clean it up. Tuesday 14 July is the best of the bunch: swell 5 ft to 5 ft from the SSW, period 16 to 17 seconds, with light SSE onshore winds at 3 to 6 mph – near glassy. With those long-period groundswells, the waves will have good shape, though at a reef like Ketewel, you’ll get longer lulls between sets, making the paddle out easier. Water temp is 28°C, right around average for this time of year.

Thursday 16 July the swell holds around 5 ft to 5 ft, but the wind turns cross-onshore again, and quality drops. Friday 17 July is poor with smaller swell and moderate wind.

The last chance is Saturday 18 July. Morning looks promising: 4 ft SSW swell at 14 seconds with light SSE onshore wind at 3 mph – glassy. Afternoon the swell jumps to 5 ft with a very long 18-second period and energy of 1854, light cross-onshore wind, but still marginal. If that morning window holds, it could be the cleanest session of the whole forecast.

Bottom line: the first 10 to 12 days are full of gaps with poor conditions. The only real standouts are Tuesday 14 July and Saturday 18 July morning, and even they’re marginal. If you’re itching to surf Ketewel, keep an eye on those light wind windows – otherwise, wait for a better pattern.

Rusty.

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