Hikkaduwa (A-Frame) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk about what's on offer for the Hikkaduwa area over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid run of poor surf conditions, with a lot of wind and stormy weather to deal with. The first real glimmer of anything rideable doesn't show up until the 12th of August, so there's a big gap of over a week with nothing worth paddling out for. Until then, it's a write-off.

The water temp is sitting at 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won't need a wetsuit.

The only spot worth talking about is Hikkaduwa (A-Frame). It's a reef break, fairly consistent, and it likes swell from the SW. The problem is the wind. For days on end, we’ve got onshore and cross-onshore winds screaming in at 15 to 22 mph, creating lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell is there, but it's a mess. On the 1st of August, the swell jumps to 8 ft to 8 ft from the W with a short, weak period of 8 seconds, and strong wave energy (1688), but it’s all cross-onshore and lumpy. That’s big, ugly, and blown out – only for the experts if anyone’s crazy enough, and with the wind, it might be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The 12th of August rolls around and things get a little more interesting. The morning of the 12th, we see a 3 ft swell from the S with a very long period of 21 seconds, and the wind finally drops to a gentle breeze, 9 mph, and is offshore. That long period swell is a groundswell, and it'll have real energy to it. The combined energy is strong at 1589. This is the standout, but it's only a marginal surf forecast, so don't expect perfection. The afternoon of the 12th gets a bit more size at 4 ft, but the wind swings cross-onshore and chops it up.

The 13th of August gives a similar story: 4 ft to 4 ft from the S with a 16-second period, and the wind is back offshore. The energy is still strong (1514 / 1482), but it's still rated as marginal. The onshore winds are a problem again by the afternoon.

So, if you're desperate, the 12th of August morning is the best bet. You'll get a clean, offshore window with a long-period groundswell from the south. It won't be perfect, but it’s the only real chance we’ve got for a decent paddle. The rest of the time? Save your energy.

Rusty.

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