Padang Padang Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, dialling in from the islands. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way for Padang Padang, but it’s gonna take a few days to really find its groove. The first couple of days are a bit of a write-off with messy conditions, but once we get past that, things clean right up and we’re looking at some serious quality.

The action starts Sunday the 26th, but it’s not exactly firing. Swell’s coming in at 6 ft from the SE with a short 9-second period, and the wind is a cross-offshore breeze at 19 mph. The energy’s moderate, but the report says it’s marginal and the tide is tricky. Not the one to get excited about. Sunday afternoon nudges up to 7 ft, still SE, but the wind goes full offshore. Still, the quality’s not there yet.

Monday the 27th is a write-off. The morning has 6 ft SE swell, but a strong breeze at 25 mph cross-off makes for poor conditions. The afternoon’s a bit better with 7 ft and offshore wind, but it’s still a no-go for me.

Tuesday the 28th is where we start to see a change. The swell drops right down to 3 ft, but it switches to a long-period SSW groundswell at 16 seconds. The energy is weak, but the wind is offshore and clean. It’s a tease of what’s coming.

Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th build slowly. Swell from the SSW at 4 ft to 5 ft, periods hanging around 14-15 seconds, and clean offshore winds. The energy is ramping up. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Now, the real standout kicks off on Friday the 31st of July. The morning session is a gem – 4 ft of SSW swell with a very long 17-second period, and a moderate 16 mph offshore breeze. The energy is strong, and the report is calling it excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle. Saturday the 1st of August is even better. The swell builds to 6 ft from the SSW on the afternoon, with a whopping 18-second period and a gentle 9 mph offshore. The energy jumps, and it’s clean, powerful, and offshore. The wind is glassy, the tide is likely cooperating, and Padang Padang will be doing its thing. This is your best window right here.

Sunday the 2nd of August keeps the love going. 6 ft to 6 ft SSW swell, 16-second period, light offshore winds, and energy in the strong range. Excellent conditions for anyone who knows what they’re doing. The following week from Monday the 3rd to Wednesday the 5th holds steady with 5 ft to 6 ft SSW swell, moderate offshore winds, and good energy – expect very good surf, but not quite the peak of the weekend.

Thursday the 6th of August brings another strong pulse. 6 ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and moderate offshore wind. The morning energy is a beast, and the report says excellent. Then we get a bit of a build-up toward the end of the outlook. Saturday the 8th of August has 8 ft to 10 ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, but the wind picks up to 19 mph offshore. The energy is very strong, but the report flags it as marginal – likely due to the size making it a big boy’s wave. Sunday the 9th of August sees 10 ft to 12 ft SSW swell, and the energy is off the charts. The morning is marginal, but the afternoon is excellent for experienced surfers with moderate offshore winds. This is for experts only. Monday the 10th of August is still pumping with 7 ft SSW swell, a 20-second period, and very strong energy. The wind is light and offshore, and it’s excellent.

If you’re a beginner, steer clear of anything over 5 ft, and from the 8th onwards, it’s strictly for the experienced crew. Remember, with these long-period swells (15-20 seconds), Padang Padang’s reef setup is ideal, but the sets will be spaced out, so you’ll have time to get in position.

The main standouts are Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August – that’s your clean, powerful, offshore window with the best overall quality. The second week brings more size and energy, but it’s more for the big-wave chargers. Crowds are possible at this spot, so get in early.

Rusty.

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