H-Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this out there. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, to be honest. The start of the period is pretty grim, with a lot of wind-affected, crumbly surf on offer. But there’s some serious size and energy brewing for the second week that could make things interesting, if a bit wild.

Our only real spot in the mix here is H-Reef. It’s a reef break, exposed to the swell, and it’s fairly consistent, but it’s an advanced wave. The water temp is sitting at a normal 80° for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

The first few days are a write-off. The swell is small and weak, with energy readings mostly under 300. The wind is cross-shore or cross-onshore, which is going to make things choppy and messy. You’ll see waves in the 3 to 4 foot range, but it’s not going to be any fun. This poor spell looks set to last right through the 9th. Don’t even bother suiting up.

We get a bit more size from the 9th into the 10th, with the swell picking up to 6 feet and the energy growing to a moderate 416. But the wind stays cross, so it’s still going to be lumpy. This is when it starts to feel like more of a grunt session than a smooth ride.

The real change comes on the 16th. The swell builds significantly, with the energy jumping from moderate to strong, hitting 982 on the morning of the 16th and then 1267 in the afternoon. Wave heights are pushing 8 feet. This is getting big, and with the period creeping up to 10 seconds, there’s some punch behind it. But the wind is still cross and fresh, so it’s going to be a battle.

Then we hit the standout period. The 17th and 18th of August are the big ones. This is where the energy really goes off – we’re talking 1749 and 1853 on the 17th, which is very strong. The swell is up to 10 to 11 feet. This is serious, expert-only territory. The wind is still cross, which is a damn shame because there’s a lot of water moving. It’s going to be heavy and challenging, but for a certain type of surfer, this is the one to circle. It’s a long-range call, so keep expectations in check, but the models are certainly pointing at a sizable pulse.

After that, the energy starts to back off a little on the 18th and into the 19th, but it remains strong, with solid 10 foot sets on the morning of the 18th. The 19th drops back to the 7 foot range, still with that cross-wind, so it remains a grindy, bumpy affair.

If you’re a beginner, stay well away from this whole period, especially once the swell gets over 5 feet. When it’s over 8 feet, it’s only for the experienced crew. And honestly, with this consistent cross-wind, the setup looks like it might be more fun for the kite surfers than us paddle guys for most of the run. The waves are there, but you’ll have to earn every single one.

Rusty

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