Ketewel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid, persistent SSW groundswell running, but the wind is the main player here. The first few days are a bit of a write-off with cross-on breezes chopping things up, so don’t expect much. The real action starts to build towards the end of the first week and into the second, but the overall picture is one of marginal conditions with a lot of raw energy.

We’re looking at Ketewel (reef break) for this whole run. It’s an advanced spot, and it’s inconsistent, so you’ve got to be on it when it turns on. It’s also sheltered, which means it’s picky about swell direction – the optimum is a south swell, and we’re getting SSW, so that’s a decent match.

The week kicks off with some surf on Tuesday morning, August 4th: 5ft of SSW swell with a 14-second period. The combined energy is strong (1360), but it’s a cross-on SE wind at 9 mph, making it fairly choppy. Not great. Wednesday and Thursday stay similar, with the swell pushing up to 6ft on Thursday and the period getting longer (17 seconds), but that cross-on wind just won’t let up, keeping things messy.

Friday, August 7th, is the first little glimmer. You’ve got clean, offshore ESE wind at 9 mph in the morning, with a 7ft SSW swell (17-second period) and very strong energy (2803). The afternoon goes cross-on again, but that morning window is the best on offer so far. The swell is getting big, though – over 8ft by Monday afternoon, August 10th, so that’s expert territory. Still, the wind is offshore (SSE) and the period is a very long 18 seconds, with combined energy hitting a massive 4591. This is a groundswell of serious size, and at a reef like Ketewel, that could be unreal if the tide plays ball. The long period will make it surging and powerful, best for those who know the reef.

The rest of that second week stays substantial, with 8ft to 8ft SSW swell and periods of 16-17 seconds. The wind continues to be a mix of cross-on and onshore, but there are a few more offshore moments, especially on the 18th of August with a light S wind at 6 mph. The combined energy remains in the very strong range (2708-3407).

The standout: Honestly, the pick of the litter is the Monday morning, August 10th session. You’ve got a huge 8ft SSW groundswell, a very long 18-second period, and offshore SSE wind. The combined energy of 4591 tells you there’s a ton of water moving. It’s a big, powerful, clean swell at a reef – for the advanced crew, that’s a session to mark on the calendar. Just be aware, it’s an inconsistent break, so you’ll be waiting for the sets, but when they come, they’ll be proper.

The rest of the window is a waiting game of cross-on chop and big swell. It’s not a total loss, but it’s a grind. The forecast is more reliable for the first week; the later stuff, like the 18th, is promising but a bit less certain.

Rusty.

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