Ketewel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – the first week or so is a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a solid run of poor surf conditions thanks to persistent cross-onshore winds out of the southeast. The waves are there, but the wind’s just tearing them up, making for choppy, messy lines. It’s not going to be a pretty picture until we get into the first week of August.

We’re starting off with Ketewel (a reef break). The water temperature is sitting at a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. For the rest of July, expect waist-to-chest high swell from the SSW, but with that 12-16 mph cross-on wind, it’ll be a battle. The swell energy is actually moderate to strong (values between 571 and 1313), but it’s all wasted on the chop. This is a sheltered spot, so the swell direction is okay, but the wind is just not your friend.

The real story starts on Saturday, August 2nd. The wind drops off a little, and we start seeing some proper SSW groundswell with a very long period of 17 seconds. The combined energy jumps up into the strong zone (2744), and while the wind is still cross-on, it’s a lighter breeze. The waves will be head-high to nearly double overhead (6 ft to 6 ft). This is a standout for the more experienced crew. The long period means better-shaped waves, but it can also make the sets a bit hard to read – expect some long lulls and then a few bombs. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so you might get a few others out, but it’s not a total circus.

Moving into Monday, August 4th and Tuesday, August 5th, the swell holds and the wind gets even lighter. The combined energy is still strong (over 2400). The swell is still a solid 7 ft to 7 ft from the SSW, so this is definitely expert territory. It’s a bit too big for beginners. The wind is a light cross-on, which is the best we’re going to get, so it’ll be cleaner than what we’ve been seeing.

Wednesday, August 6th offers a small window where the wind turns directly onshore, but the swell is still there. It’s a gamble, but the lighter wind might make it workable for a session.

The best bet from this whole outlook is the stretch from Saturday, August 2nd through to Tuesday, August 5th. The long-period groundswell, dropping wind, and solid size are the best on offer. It’s still not perfect, but it’s a damn sight better than what we’ve got now.

That’s the long and short of it. Keep an eye on the wind, and if you’re an advanced surfer, mark those first few days of August on your calendar.

Rusty.

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