Ketewel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a steady run of solid, long-period SSW groundswell, but the wind is going to be a pain in the backside for the first week. The water’s sitting at 81°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no need to worry about a wetsuit.

The wind is mostly cross-on from the southeast, which is going to leave things a bit choppy and bumpy. The wave energy is moderate to strong, but that onshore breeze is making it scrappy. The first few days, from Saturday the 1st through to Tuesday the 5th, are all marginal. The swell is around 5 ft to 6 ft, and while the period is a dream—between 15 and 18 seconds—the wind is just not playing ball. It’s going to be a bit of a battle paddling out through the chop.

The real standout in this forecast is shaping up to be Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th. We’ve got a significant jump in swell size, hitting a solid 10 ft on Tuesday morning with a 17 to 18 second period. That’s a proper groundswell with strong energy. The winds finally turn offshore from the SSE, which is ideal for this spot. Ketewel is a reef break, so a long-period swell like this will really focus those lines. But heads up—at 10 ft, this is only for the experienced crew. It’s a big, powerful wave. The crowds are “sometimes” a factor, so you might have a few others in the water, but the quality should be worth it.

The next few days after that, Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th, still have offshore wind and cleaner conditions, but the swell eases back to 8 ft and then 5 ft. The period drops a bit, too, so the energy starts to fade. Still good waves, just not the standout.

Looking further out, the second week has a pulse of long-period swell around Friday the 14th, with a 21-second period. That’s very long, which can make reef breaks like Ketewel really juice up, but the swell height is only 4 ft to 5 ft. It’s a promising blip, but the wind is back cross-on for the weekend so it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

Overall, if you’re an expert, mark your calendar for Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th. That’s the window. The rest of the time is either too windy or the swell is dropping. It’s not a total write-off, but you’ll be scratching for a clean one until that big mid-week pulse.

Rusty.

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