Balian Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down for Bali.

We’ve got a steady run of SSW groundswell on the way, but the wind is going to be the main factor for most of this stretch. The water is sitting at 79°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

It starts on Friday the 21st. Balian is seeing a solid 6 ft of SSW swell with a very long 17-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, and with a combined energy reading of 1732, it’s got some serious push. The cross-shore wind from the SE at 9 mph is the only thing keeping it from being glassy. There’s a slight cross-chop, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but it’s still rideable for an intermediate. Because it’s a reef break, that long period will actually help it shape up nicely. The crowds are only “sometimes” an issue here, so you might get a bit of company but nothing crazy.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are similar: 5 ft to 6 ft of SSW swell, periods dropping from 16 seconds down to 15 seconds, but still solid. The wind stays cross-shore from the SE, chopping things up a bit. The combined energy is still in the high three-digit range, so there’s plenty of grunt. It’s a classic “okay but not great” run – you’ll get waves, but you’ll be working for them.

Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 26th we start to see the swell fade. Heights drop from 5 ft down to 3 ft, and the energy drops into the 500-600 range. The wind stays cross-shore and moderate, so it’s getting weaker and more average. By Wednesday afternoon, the combined energy is down to 495 and the forecast calls it poor.

Thursday the 27th is a bit of a tease. The morning is small at 3 ft, but the afternoon brings a jump in energy to 1253 with a 3 ft swell and a 20-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell, but it’s small, and the wind is still cross-shore. It’ll be fat and slow.

Now, the best true standout in this whole window is Friday the 28th. We get a morning pulse of 6 ft SSW swell at 16 seconds, with the combined energy hitting 2012. That’s serious wave energy. The wind is cross-onshore from the SSE at 9 mph, so it’s a bit choppy, but for a reef like Balian, that size and period will produce some solid, clean lines. It’s the biggest and most powerful swell of the entire forecast. The afternoon holds at 6 ft with energy at 1671. This is the day to call in sick for. Just be aware that at 6 ft, it’s edging into the “not for beginners” territory.

After that, the swell trickles down through the end of August and into early September. The 29th to the 31st is mostly 3 ft to 4 ft with cross-shore wind, and the 31st is a write-off with poor conditions and short-period, weak windswell.

The first week of September is a mixed bag. The 1st has a brief moment of hope with a 4 ft, 17-second swell and a light cross-shore breeze, giving it a bit of a boost. The 2nd morning is 5 ft from the SW with a 17-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s a bit of a battle. The 3rd and 4th are smaller and weaker.

Honestly, from the 28th of August onward, it’s a long run of marginal surf. If you’re looking for a standout, it’s the 28th without a doubt. The rest is just filling in the gaps.

Rusty.

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