Ketewel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it's a tough stretch to call. We're staring down a long, frustrating run of marginal to poor conditions. The swell is there, but the wind is just not playing ball. For the most part, it's a battle of cross-onshore winds and choppy surface, making it hard to find any real quality. The water temp is sitting at 26°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won't be needing a thick wetsuit.

The first real window of opportunity doesn't show up until late in the game. The forecast picks up on Friday, 21 August, but it's a write-off – a solid 7ft SSW groundswell with a very long 17-second period, but that east-southeast cross-onshore breeze at 9 mph is going to ruin it. That same story repeats for days. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... all cross-onshore and choppy. The swell is there, but it's messy. The combined energy is strong, hitting 2823 on the Friday, but it's all for nothing with the wind.

We get a bit of a lull in the middle of the week, with swell dropping to around 4ft to 5ft, but the wind is still a problem. The wind finally turns straight onshore for some periods, which is even worse. The only glimmer of hope is a few windows where the wind goes "on," which is a code for unknown, but likely straight onshore too.

The best bet, and I mean the *only* bet worth mentioning, is the late forecast. Look towards Friday, 28 August. The swell is pumping again at 8ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period, pushing combined energy up to 3306. That's a lot of power. But the wind is still a cross-onshore ESE breeze at 9 mph. It's not clean, but for a spot like Ketewel (Bali), which is a sheltered reef, it might be the least ugly option. The size is getting into expert territory, but the chop will make it a battle.

Then, right at the very end of the forecast, we get a real shift. On Tuesday, 1 September, the wind eases, with a light breeze from the SE at 6 mph and the wind state showing "on" – which could mean glassy. The swell is a solid 5ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, combined energy at 2058. That could be the standout session. The conditions are still marginal according to the notes, but this is the closest we get to clean surf. The SE wind is the optimum for this spot, so the direction is finally right. Expect crowds, as it's known to get busy.

If you're a beginner, stay clear of the bigger days. The 8ft on the 28th is too much. The 5ft to 6ft range is more manageable, but the chop will make it tricky.

The rest of the first week of September is more of the same – marginal conditions with onshore or cross-onshore winds. It's a long wait for a short window of potential.

Rusty out.

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