Ketewel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it.

The next couple of weeks are looking like a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. We’ve got a solid run of southwest groundswell, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story, and it’s not always going to be your friend. The energy is there, but the conditions are going to keep this from being a full-on epic stretch. It’s more about picking the right windows than just paddling out whenever.

We kick things off at Ketewel this Friday morning, August 14th. There’s a solid 7ft of SSW swell rolling in with a long 16-second period, and the energy is strong at 2514. The water is sitting at 80°F, which is about average for this time of year. The problem is that it’s pretty crossed-up with that southeast breeze. It’s not blown out, but it’s not clean either. The consistency is a bit of an issue too, so you’re going to be waiting for the good ones.

The weekend stays in that same groove. Saturday the 15th has that strong, consistent, long-period SSW swell, holding around 7ft with a 17-second period, and a hefty 2757 energy reading. But again, that light cross-onshore from the ESE is going to put a few ripples on the face. It’s surfable, but that glassy, perfect skin isn’t going to happen. Sunday the 16th is much the same story, just with a little less size at 7ft.

Now, let's talk about the standout. If you’re looking for the best window, it’s got to be the afternoon of Wednesday, August 19th. The swell is on the rise, hitting 8ft with an 18-second period, and the energy is right up there at 4098. That’s a serious push of water. The wind stays the same – that cross-onshore – but it's only a gentle breeze. With that size and power, it will still have some shape to it, and that long period will make it feel even bigger. This is for experienced surfers only, though. 8ft is pushing into expert territory, especially on a reef. The crowd factor is a real thing here too, it's "sometimes" busy, but on a swell like this, expect some company.

Another one to have on your radar is Thursday morning, August 20th. Same size at 8ft with a 16-second period, and a strong 3486 energy reading. The wind is a touch lighter, which could make it slightly cleaner. These two days are your best bet for the bigger, more powerful stuff.

After that, into the second week, things start to wind down. We’re looking at the 21st and 22nd with swell around the 7ft mark, but the wind starts to pick up a bit, and the consistency gets worse. It’s not going to be great. By the 23rd, the swell has dropped to 6ft, and the energy is fading fast.

The final few days, from the 25th onward, the swell just fades away. We’re talking 4ft to 5ft with weak energy readings under 1000. It’s going to be small and pretty poor, with that cross-onshore wind chopping things up. The 27th and 28th look pretty flat and messy. There’s a little bump in the energy on the 29th with a 4ft swell and a 16-second period, but it’s still marginal at best.

So, to sum it up: it’s a two-week window with some decent power early on, but the persistent cross-onshore wind and inconsistency will keep it from being a classic. The real standouts are the Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning of the 19th and 20th. Big, powerful, long-period SSW swell with only light cross-onshore wind. If you can handle it and the crowd, that’s the pick of the lot. The rest is just average, and the last week is mostly a write-off for good waves.

Rusty.

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