Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Thu 8th May)

Best Days: Every day up until Tuesday week

This week and next week (May 8 - 15th)

Since Tuesday's update there's been no real change to the weekend's forecast SW swell or the much larger and more powerful S/SW groundswell due later Monday ahead of a peak Tuesday.

Satellite observations have confirmed the model forecast winds of 35-50kt winds in the Southern Indian Ocean from a couple of vigorous polar fronts piggybacking each other (pictured right).

This has generated two strong pulses of S/SW groundswell, the first arriving Monday and building to the 8ft range later in the day ahead of a much larger pulse Tuesday to 10ft to occasionally 12ft at exposed breaks. Locations from Sumbawa east will see smaller surf due to the extra travel distance and slight shadowing effects of Australia

From today E/SE trades are expected to freshen favouring slightly protected locations over more exposed breaks, although period of variable winds are likely early each morning.

A drop in size is due on Wednesday but the swell will still be large and not for in-experienced surfers.

A secondary large but not to the size of Tuesday's swell is due on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, generated by another vigorous polar front pushing up further into the Southern Indian Ocean than the systems before it, but with not as much strength or width.

Still, this should see exposed spots pulsing back to 8-10ft later Thursday and Friday morning before tapering off gradually into the weekend and further next week.

Trade-winds will start relaxing from next weekend onwards, opening up swell magnets for business as the surf becomes small.

Longer term there's nothing really major on the cards at this stage besides small to medium levels of background SW swell, so make the most of the coming period!

Uluwatu Forecast
Sumbawa Forecast
East Java Forecast