Padang Padang Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, grab ya board, we’re dialling into the tropics. This is a solid run of Indian Ocean groundswell for the Uluwatu region, all pointing at one very specific, very famous left-hander. The water’s sitting at a pretty normal 78° for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The pattern is set in from Tuesday 18th August. We’ve got a persistent, long-period SSW to SW groundswell hitting, with the energy clocking in strong (2883). The wind is locked in from the ESE, blowing clean offshore all morning and into the afternoon for most days. This is a classic dry-season setup for Padang Padang. The swell is solid, between 6ft and 8ft, and with periods of 16 to 18 seconds, this is proper, powerful groundswell. That means better shaped waves, more energy, and longer lulls between sets, which is a big help for the paddle out. It also means the reef will be doing its thing, so this is advanced territory.

The standout of the whole run? Wednesday 19th August afternoon. The swell bumps up to 8ft from the SSW with a 17-second period, and the combined energy is cranking (4037). The wind is clean offshore. That’s world-class. If you’re an experienced surfer, that’s your session. Thursday 20th is nearly as good, with 8ft morning and 8ft afternoon, all under the same offshore breeze.

The energy stays strong all the way through, but a couple of days need a heads-up. Saturday 22nd morning has a cross-offshore wind from the ESE at 18 mph, which blows it a bit wonky, and it’s rated marginal. The afternoon cleans up though. Similarly, from Friday 28th through to Sunday 30th, the wind swings more southerly, going cross-offshore, which will make the lineup a little less perfect. It’s still surfable, but the crystal-clean conditions of the first week fade.

The swell picks up again heading into the second week. Monday 31st August is a gem, with 7ft from the SW and a gentle offshore wind from the SSE by the afternoon. Then Tuesday 1st September and Wednesday 2nd September (the end of the forecast window) see another pulse of solid 8ft to 8ft swell, with light offshore winds. That’s a promising end to the run, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

One thing to note: Padang Padang is inconsistent. It doesn’t pump every day, and when it does, it’s a heavy, hollow reef break. It’s also a spot that can get crowded. When the swell is this good, expect company. If you’re not comfortable on a steep, fast reef wave, this is not the time to learn. For the experts, this is as good as it gets.

Rusty

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