Nihiwatu
Indonesia · Indo-Pacific
Right now
Rain showersWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.0m SW
Wind: 3 km/h ENE (offshore)
Beach faces: SW
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is arriving at a great angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:34Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Boardshorts weather. 30°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
1.1m swell at 12s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 30°C.
AI-generated summary for Nihiwatu. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Nihiwatu
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 7am (score: 50). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking well above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Nihiwatu.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Nihiwatu
Nihiwatu is a legendary, highly exclusive left-hand reef break situated on the rugged southern coastline of Sumba, Indonesia. The bathymetry consists of an exceptionally shallow, sharply defined volcanic coral reef that funnels deep Indian Ocean swells into a highly concentrated breaking zone. When struck by a prominent south-westerly groundswell, the wave jacks abruptly out of deep water, pitching a thick, heavy lip that creates a deep, incredibly fast barrel. An easterly offshore trade wind is necessary to groom the wave face and hold the massive tube open. Due to the extreme velocity of the drop and the severity of the coral reef mere centimetres below the surface, Nihiwatu is exclusively for advanced to expert surfers. It requires precise positioning and immediate rail engagement to survive the high-consequence initial section, which subsequently races down the line in a sequence of hollow tubes. Miscalculations result in direct, punishing impacts with the unforgiving live reef.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Nihiwatu. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Nihiwatu?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.