Ketewel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a 16-day window on the table for the area, but I’ll be honest with you – it’s a rough stretch. The forecast is a long, tough grind of cross-onshore winds and messy conditions that just won’t let up. There are no standout sessions to get excited about in the first week, and the second week is looking pretty grim too. Honestly, there’s a gap of several days with no real recommendation at all.

The only spot on the radar is Ketewel (reef), and it’s a tricky one. This break is sheltered, inconsistent, and it’s only for the advanced crew. The optimum swell direction is from the south, and we do get a consistent south-southwest swell direction throughout, but the wind is the killer. Nearly every morning and afternoon from the 21st of July through to the 5th of August is hammered by a moderate to fresh cross-onshore from the east or southeast, making the surf poor and choppy. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about normal for the time of year, so the water is warm, but you won’t care if you’re getting blown off your board.

The first real mention of anything that isn’t total junk comes on the 5th of August, Wednesday morning. The swell is pumping up to 8ft from the SSW with a period of 16 seconds – that’s a powerful, long-period groundswell. The combined energy is strong to very strong (3460), and the wind drops to a gentle breeze, still cross-on, but it’s lighter. This is big, powerful, straight-shooting swell; at a reef break like Ketewel, that could be a real handful. It’s gonna be heavy, and for experts only. The afternoon of the 5th looks a bit better with the wind dropping to a light breeze, and the swell sits at 8ft with a period of 15 seconds, energy is still very strong (4645). That afternoon window is the best on offer in the whole forecast, but it’s a full two weeks out, so it’s a promising but uncertain long-range hope. The cross-onshore wind is still there, just lighter, so it’s not glassy, but it’s the cleanest it gets. Crowds are sometimes an issue there, so be ready for that if you go for it.

The bottom line: there’s nothing surfable for the first two weeks, basically. The 5th of August offers a glimmer, but it’s a big, powerful, expert-only wave with a persistent cross-wind. If you’re not an advanced surfer, stay home. If you are, mark that Wednesday afternoon, say a prayer to the wind gods, and keep your fingers crossed.

Rusty.

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