Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Thursday 30th April)

Best Days: Friday afternoon onwards, experienced surfers only from Tuesday afternoon through the end of next week

This week and next week (May 1 - 8)

The surf's bottomed out across eastern Indonesia today, but from tomorrow we should see some better swell activity ahead of a larger S/SW groundswell mid-next week.

Over the coming days a couple of inconsistent and moderate sized S/SW groundswells are due to fill in, generated by a couple of relatively small and weak frontal systems firing up to the west-southwest of WA.

Initially tomorrow a very inconsistent SW groundswell is due to build through the day, reaching 3-5ft across exposed breaks into the afternoon/evening. This will then be replaced by the first pulse of S/SW groundswell Saturday, building to 4-5ft+ through the afternoon.

Sunday should be more in the 4-6ft range before dropping back from a similar size Monday.

During this period from Friday to Monday, The Mad Hueys Komune Bali Pro will be run at Keramas and conditions will be great across the east side of Bali.

Friday should start slow with inconsistent 2ft waves, but a kick to 3ft sets is due through the afternoon. Saturday and Sunday will be great with the swell building to an inconsistent 3-4ft+ through the afternoon Saturday, holding through Sunday and then easing just a touch Monday.

Conditions look good most of the day as well with light morning offshore winds and variable tending weak sea breezes into the afternoons.

Here's a clip from Day 1 of the event last year.

Looking into Tuesday, the fore-runners of a large and powerful S/SW groundswell are due to build through the day, ahead of a peak through Wednesday.

Currently down around the Heard Island region a vigorous polar low is generating a fetch of severe-gale to storm-force W/SW winds. This low will broaden while weakening a touch, projecting a slow moving fetch of severe-gale SW winds up towards Western Australia through tomorrow and the weekend.

This should produce a large and prolonged S/SW groundswell event, building Tuesday afternoon to 6ft+ across exposed breaks before dark and then peaking Wednesday to 8-10ft+.

A slight drop in size is due through the afternoon and then down from the 6-8ft+ range Thursday and further from 6ft Friday and smaller into the weekend.

Conditions will be great for the name reefs as moderate to fresh E/SE trades kick in from Tuesday. In saying this lighter and more variable breezes should be seen each morning across more exposed breaks.

Longer term the next large S/SW groundswell is due Monday the 11th of May, but more on this in the next update.

Also keep an eye on the site for daily photos and videos from the Komune Bali Pro.

16 day Keramas Forecast Graph
16 day Bali Forecast Graph
16 day East Java Forecast Graph
16 day Sumbawa Forecast Graph