H-Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, but I gotta be honest with you – it’s a tough stretch for proper waves. The opening days are pretty grim, and it takes a while before we see anything worth paddling out for.

We’re looking at H-Reef, a fairly consistent reef break that’s exposed to the swell. It handles an optimum swell from the NNE, but the wind’s been hammering it from the ENE and E for the first week and a half. That means persistent cross-shore conditions, which is a real buzzkill. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

The first few days, from Saturday the 8th right through to Thursday the 13th, are a write-off. We’ve got a mix of 4ft to 6ft swell, but it’s short-period stuff – 7 to 8 seconds – and the wind’s a moderate cross-breeze. The combined energy is weak to moderate (174 to 488), and the wave comment is “poor surf conditions.” Honestly, not worth getting wet for.

Now, Friday the 14th is where things get interesting but not in a good way for most of us. The swell jumps big time – 8ft in the morning, pushing 10ft by the afternoon. The period stretches to 10 to 11 seconds, so there’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy rockets up to 1481 and then 2484 – that’s strong to very strong. But the trade-off is a fresh E wind at 22 mph, keeping it lumpy and cross. This is only for experts. Beginners, stay on the beach. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle session.

Saturday the 15th is the biggest day of the run. We’re looking at a solid 12ft of E swell, with that same fresh cross-breeze. The energy is pumping – 2811 in the morning. It’s big, powerful, and messy. Again, experts only. For the average surfer, it’s a pass.

Then we get a tiny glimmer of hope on Sunday the 16th. The morning drops to 10ft, with a period of 9 seconds, and the wind backs off to a moderate 16 mph ENE. The combined energy is still strong (1222), and the wave comment upgrades to “marginal.” It’s not great, but if you’re an experienced local and can handle the size and the cross-chop, it’s the closest thing to a wave we’ve got in this whole window. The afternoon fades again.

After that, from Monday the 17th onwards, it’s back to small, poor surf. The swell drops to 3ft to 6ft, the period is short, and the wind stays cross. The energy is weak to moderate (200 to 436). The best of the leftovers is on Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, with 6ft at 8 to 9 seconds from the E, but still cross-shore. It’s a long way out, and honestly, it’s not looking promising.

So, bottom line: the only day that’s even worth a mention is Sunday the 16th of August, for experts only. The rest? Save your energy.

Rusty.

Read more