Kuta Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Kuta Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, it’s a rough start for the first week or so. The surf is there, but it’s pretty marginal, with a lot of cross-off winds and a lot of rain showers. The water temp is sitting around 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The swell energy is actually quite solid for the first few days, with readings well over 1000 (1220 on Tuesday morning), but the wind is just not doing us any favours. The swell is coming from the SSW, a solid groundswell with a period of 14 seconds, so it’s got some push, but with that 16 mph cross-off breeze, it’s going to be bumpy and hard to line up. The wave comment says "marginal surf forecast" and I’m not feeling it. This is one for the die-hards only.

The pattern stays pretty much the same through until the end of July. There’s a bit of a drop in energy mid-week, down to around 539 on Thursday, and the swell period stays long, between 13 and 17 seconds, but the wind remains a stubborn cross-off. It’s going to be a frustrating week if you’re chasing clean walls.

We do have a bit of a change around the 30th of July. The wind drops to a gentle breeze, 9 mph, and the conditions get a lot cleaner. The swell is around 4 ft from the SSW with a period of 15 seconds, and the energy jumps back up to 1126. The wave comment even says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers". This is the first real glimmer of hope. The break is consistent, so you can expect a few sets, but keep in mind it’s a beginner-friendly break, so with 4 ft swell, it’s still manageable for most.

Now, the standout. Look at the 31st of July. Friday morning. The wind goes glassy – 3 mph from the SSW, which is offshore for Kuta Beach. The swell is 3 ft, but the period is a massive 18 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell. The energy is still high (1053), and the wave comment says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers". This is the pick of the bunch. The glassy conditions and that long period will produce some clean, lined-up waves, but fair warning: with a period that long, it might break a bit too straight for a beach break, so watch for the sets to be a bit more walled up. The crowd factor at Kuta Beach is "always" busy, so expect a pack.

After that, the 1st and 2nd of August look promising too, with a mix of cross-off and clean conditions, and the swell staying around 5 ft to 6 ft. The energy is high, up to 1624, so there’s plenty of power. The 4th of August is the real big one, but it’s a long way off. The forecast for Tuesday the 4th of August shows a 8 ft SSW swell with a period of 19 seconds, and the combined energy hits 5128. That’s a massive amount of energy. The wave comment says "exceptional surf conditions for expert surfers". This is for the big-wave crew only. 8 ft is too big for beginners, and only for experts. The wind is a cross-off, so it’ll be a challenge. The following days show a drop in quality as the wind picks up again.

For the kite surfers, the stretch from the 26th to the 28th of July, with 7 ft swell and strong cross-off winds, might be more interesting for you than for paddle surfing.

So, if you’re after a paddle, the 31st of July Friday morning is the one to circle. The 4th of August is the big one, but it’s a long way out and subject to change.

Rusty.

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