Hikkaduwa (A-Frame) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at this. I’m Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for the Hikkaduwa area.

Straight up, I’ve got to be honest with you. This 16-day window is a tough one for us here in Hikkaduwa. The forecast is pretty much a blank run of poor surf conditions with onshore winds, especially from the west. The only break on the cards is Hikkaduwa (A-Frame) , a reef setup that’s usually fairly consistent, but it’s going to be a struggle. The water temp is sitting at 84°F, which is about normal for this time of year, but that’s where the good news ends.

We’re looking at a gap of surf that’s essentially not worth paddling out for until the very end of the period. The first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th have poor surf with moderate WSW winds blowing onshore, and swell around 3 ft to 4 ft from the south. The energy is there – around 400 to 600 (moderate) – but it’s messy. The wind keeps up, and by the 10th of September, we start seeing some bigger numbers. On Thursday the 10th, the swell builds to 4 ft to 5 ft from the SSW with a long period of 17-18 seconds, but it’s still onshore wind from the west. The energy is strong (1290-1396), but the quality is poor.

The swell keeps climbing through the second week. By Saturday the 12th of September, we’re looking at 6 ft to 7 ft SSW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s a lot of juice (2716-3228), and period over 15 seconds means it’s groundswell. For a reef break like A-Frame, that’s *usually* a good thing, but with the wind still blowing onshore from the west at 16 mph, it’s going to be a washing machine. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The biggest swell of the run hits on Wednesday the 16th of September, with 7 ft SSW swell and a 17-18 second period. The combined energy is massive (4019-3109), but it’s still accompanied by onshore winds. For experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a session of survival.

There is one tiny flicker of hope. On Saturday the 19th of September, we get a "some clouds" morning with 6 ft SSW swell, but the wind is still onshore. The afternoon shows a "marginal" call with a cross-onshore wind. It’s not good. The very last day, Sunday the 20th, the swell drops to 3 ft to 4 ft, but the period is a very long 18-19 seconds. The wind is cross-onshore again. The forecast is poor right through.

So, the bottom line? There are no standouts. The conditions are consistently blown out. The area is fairly consistent, so it’s a bit of a tough run, but forecasts can change. For now, I’d sit this one out.

Rusty.

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