BMKG Flags 3.5-Metre Waves South of Bali
BMKG forecast waves of up to 3.5 metres south of Bali on Sept. 22, while the Bali Sea was expected to remain lower. Conditions varied by route and port.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 2 min read
Denpasar — The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) forecast waves reaching 3.5 metres in the waters south of Bali on Sept. 22, 2026, while conditions in the Bali Sea were forecast at up to 1.3 metres.
The forecast period runs from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25. BMKG’s maritime bulletin classified the Bali Sea as having moderate seas and described the Indian Ocean south of Bali as rough, with easterly winds of 9 to 16 knots. A separate BMKG maritime forecast for the Bali Sea listed 1.1-metre waves at 3 a.m. WITA (UTC+8) and identified a potential 1.3-metre wave in the area.
Why the forecast matters for Bali trips
The highest wave risk is concentrated south of the island rather than across all Bali waters. That distinction matters to visitors and foreign residents whose plans involve small boats, fishing vessels, ferries or coastal excursions. Conditions at individual ports also varied: BMKG-linked reporting listed waves of 1.25 to 2.5 metres at Benoa and Serangan, while Sanur, Nusa Penida and Kusamba were listed at lower ranges.
For boat operators, the forecast describes changing operating conditions, not a blanket closure. The relevant exposure depends on the route, vessel and departure point. The Bali Sea and southern waters can therefore present materially different conditions on the same day.
BMKG uses wave categories to describe marine conditions. Its published scale identifies waves from 0.5 to 1.25 metres as slight, 1.25 to 2.5 metres as moderate and 2.5 to 4 metres as high. The agency’s maritime guidance says people should exercise caution and follow local authorities’ instructions where elevated waves are forecast.
The Sept. 22 forecast also recorded easterly winds in the Bali Sea, with gusts reaching 18 knots in the listed early-morning observation. The southern waters were separately described in BMKG’s shipping bulletin as having rough seas. These figures can change as the forecast is updated, so the applicable marine bulletin is tied to its stated validity period.
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