H-Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for H-Reef over the next 16 days.

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough run. For the first week and a half, from Thursday the 30th of July right through to Monday the 10th of August, the surf is just not cooperating. We’re looking at a solid 11-day stretch of poor conditions. The swell is mostly coming out of the E to ENE, with heights bouncing between 4 ft and 8 ft, but the wind is a persistent cross-shore from the E or ENE, blowing at 12 to 19 mph. That constant breeze is putting a chop on the surface, and the wave period is short – mostly 7 to 8 seconds – so the waves lack any real shape or punch. The combined swell energy is moderate, hitting 453 on the 30th, peaking at 992 on the 1st of August, but it’s all messy. There’s nothing here for a paddle surfer; honestly, with that much wind and wave height, it looks more like a kite session out there.

The water temperature is sitting at 79° on the 30th of July, and the anomaly is only +0.2°, so it’s pretty average for the time of year – nothing to write home about.

Now, we do finally see a hint of something on Monday the 3rd of August morning, with a score of 1/10, but that’s just ‘marginal’ at 5 ft and a short period – still not worth paddling out for. The real low point is the swell dropping to 3 ft mid-week on the 12th.

After that long dry spell, things start to look a tiny bit more interesting come Sunday the 9th of August morning. The period jumps to 9 seconds, and the swell is 5 ft from the E, with combined energy at 527. It’s still only a ‘marginal’ call, and the wind is a moderate cross-shore, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

But here’s the thing – looking at the whole 16-day window, there is no standout session. The best on offer is probably that Sunday morning on the 9th of August. H-Reef is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, exposed to swell, and it prefers an optimum swell from the NNE. We’re getting E and ENE swells, so it’s not ideal. The difficulty is advanced, and crowds are possible (sometimes), so you won’t be alone. Still, with 5 ft and a 9-second period, you might get a couple of lined-up waves if the wind lays off. But don’t hold your breath.

The rest of the window into the second week – the 10th through the 14th of August – sees the swell drop back to 3 ft to 5 ft, with short periods and that same cross-shore wind. It’s poor, plain and simple. The combined energy dips below 300, which is weak.

To sum it up: this is a long, flat, and choppy period for H-Reef. If you’re desperate, the 9th of August morning is your best bet, but it’s not going to be one for the memory books. The winds are just too persistent to let the reef do its thing.

Rusty.

Read more