Hikkaduwa (A-Frame) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let me tell you straight up: this outlook for the Hikkaduwa area is a grim one. We're looking at a solid 16-day stretch, from the 7th of July right the way through to the 22nd, and there's not a single session I'd be stoked to paddle out for. It’s a long, dry run of poor surf conditions with no real highlights to get excited about.

Starting off from Tuesday the 7th, the swell is there at around 6 ft from the WNW, but with a 12 mph cross-onshore breeze, it’s choppy and messy. That same story plays out day after day. The water temp is sitting at 83°F for the first mention, which is about average for this time of year, but that's about the only thing that's normal. The combined swell energy is moderate to strong, hitting values like 1272 and 1674 on the 7th and 8th, but it doesn't matter with the wind ruining it.

Looking at the period, we get a mix. On the 8th, Thursday afternoon, there’s a longer period swell from the SSW at 14 seconds, which would normally be a sign of good groundswell energy, but with the cross-on wind and a score of just 1 out of 10 it's a write-off. Same goes for the 16-second period on the 9th; that's a very long period, the kind that makes for clean lines at a reef like Hikkaduwa (A-Frame), but the wind and the "poor surf conditions" label kill any hope. The wind stays stubbornly from the W or WNW, often at 12–16 mph, keeping things onshore and choppy. Even when the wind state is listed as "on" rather than "cross-on," the surf quality is still rated as poor.

There's no standout break to recommend because the one break in the data, Hikkaduwa (A-Frame), just isn't offering anything. The swell direction at its best is from the SW, which is its optimum, but when swells do come from that direction, like on the 14th and 15th, it's with the same poor wind setup. The surf never cleans up. There’s a suggestion of bigger surf on the 22nd of July, with swell hitting 7 ft, but that’s coming from the west with a short period of 7 seconds and a 16 mph onshore wind – that’s just a washing machine for experts only, and even they would hate it.

Honestly, this is a blank run. The water is average, the wind is relentless, and the forecast is clear that conditions aren't turning around anytime soon. A few days in the second week, like the 16th and 17th, have swell from the SW with long periods, but the onshore wind kills it every time. If the swell gets up and the quality is this poor, this beach and reef setup might be more interesting for the kite crowd than for us paddle surfers. We're looking at 16 days with nothing to recommend. The forecasts can change, but as it stands, you'd be better off polishing your board.

Rusty

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