Airport seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (April - October)
Airport hits its stride when the southeast monsoon takes over the Indonesian archipelago. Through April to October, a persistent ridge of high pressure over Australia drives clean E/ESE/SE trade winds into this west-facing stretch of coast, while the Southern Ocean winter storm belt kicks up powerful SSW/S groundswell. Average wave heights run a consistent 5-7ft (1.7-2.2m) with periods climbing from 13.8 into the mid-14s, and offshore wind percentages are at their annual peak. June through August deliver the heaviest, most consistent size, while September and October often match that punch with the cleanest surfaces and the highest percentage of rideable days.
Fair Surf Season (March & November)
March and November sit in the battle zone between the northwest and southeast monsoons. There is usually some 5ft (1.6m) of SSW groundswell at 13-13.3s, but the wind direction is far more variable. Westerly onshore flow can still wipe out the surface on any given day, and the percentage of ideal wind is markedly lower than the dry-season core. When the trades are holding, these months have all the ingredients for excellent surf; when the monsoon pushes back, the offshore wind disappears quickly.
Low Surf Season (December - February)
The northwest monsoon is the great equalizer during December, January and February. A monsoon trough draped across the region reverses the low-level wind climate, and W/WNW winds blow directly onshore at this west-facing beach. The swell is deceptively solid at 5-6ft (1.6-1.7m) with some very favorable SW/SSW direction, but the ideal-wind share crashes to just 17-23%. Daily tropical downpours, sticky air and bumpy surfaces make these months a waiting game for the rare offshore early-morning window.