Padang Padang Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up.

Alright, we’ve got a solid run of surf ahead for Padang Padang. The pattern is a sustained, long-period SSW groundswell that builds through the week and sticks around for the whole 16-day window. The wind is offshore from the ESE to SE almost the entire time, which is a beautiful thing for this reef. The energy is ramping up, with combined swell energy readings in the moderate to strong range, hitting 811 right at the start and climbing into the thousands, so expect plenty of push.

Water temp is sitting at 27°C, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The build starts Wednesday, July 29th, with 4ft to 4ft SSW swell at 14 seconds. The wind is a fresh offshore breeze, keeping things clean, but the waves are a bit marginal and the tide might be a factor. The energy is moderate (811). Thursday the 30th sees a step up to 5ft with a 15-second period, and the energy is getting stronger (1264-1534). Winds are moderate offshore, so it’s clean but still a bit on the small side.

Friday, July 31st, is where it starts to get really good. The swell holds at 4ft, but the period stretches to 17 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell with real shape. Winds are moderate offshore, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. The energy is moderate (1469-1415). This is a great day for those who can handle a reef at this size.

The standouts start from Saturday, August 1st, and into the following week. Saturday morning we have 5ft at 16 seconds with a gentle offshore breeze – glassy and clean. The afternoon ramps up to 6ft at a very long 18 seconds, with the energy jumping to 2447. That’s a beautiful, powerful wave. From Sunday, August 2nd through to Monday, August 5th, we see consistent 5ft to 7ft SSW swell, with periods between 14 and 17 seconds. The wind stays offshore, and the energy is moderate to strong (1264-2341). The surf quality remains excellent for experienced surfers. This is a sustained run of clean, lined-up waves.

Now, the real highlight and the biggest swell of the entire forecast is from Friday, August 7th, through to Monday, August 12th. Starting Friday the 7th, the swell jumps to 10ft at 19 seconds, with a massive combined energy of 8069. That is very strong, expert-only territory. It’s still offshore, but at 10ft on a reef, this is only for the best. The size hovers around 8ft for the next several days, with periods between 16 and 18 seconds and energy consistently in the 3000-4000 range. The wind stays offshore, so the conditions are exceptional. The 12th of August, Wednesday, looks like another peak with 8ft at 18 seconds and energy hitting 4354.

Given the sustained offshore wind and the long-period groundswell, this is a classic Padang Padang set-up. The waves will have a lot of energy and a defined line, which is perfect for this reef pass. The crowds are listed as "sometimes" – so expect other surfers in the water, but it’s not a constant circus. Bear in mind that this is an advanced reef break, and when the swell is over 8ft, it’s strictly for experts.

The best day on offer, looking at the whole picture, is Saturday, August 1st, when the 5-6ft SSW swell meets the 16-18 second period under gentle to moderate offshore winds. It’s big enough to be fun, not so big it’s a mission, and the energy is strong. The other standout is the big swell window from August 7th to 12th, but that’s a long-range call; it looks promising and powerful, but the size is serious.

Rusty, signing off.

Read more