Hilton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, crew, Rusty here. Let’s cut to the chase. The next couple of weeks are looking like a proper drought for any decent waves. We've got a long stretch of tiny, weak, and messy surf, with only a slight flicker of something halfway decent right at the tail end of the forecast. Keep the expectations low.

We're starting flat. From Sunday the 16th, all the way through Friday the 28th, it's a big blank run. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 feet, with short-period, wind-swell crud. The wave energy is mostly in the double digits, occasionally nudging just past 100 (like 133 on the 16th afternoon), but there's no power or shape to any of it. The mornings that are glassy, like the 19th and 22nd, will look nice, but with waves around 2 feet, you'll just be bobbing around. Other mornings have a light cross-onshore breeze that just ruffles up an already messy surface. It’s a good time to get the fins sorted or re-wax the board, because there’s nothing here.

The only wave we're watching is Hilton, which is a reef setup that's inconsistent at the best of times. It's exposed to all this junk. The water temp on that first morning is 86°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year—not a big deal, but you'll be fine in boardshorts.

We finally see a pulse of something on Saturday the 29th. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the WNW, and the energy jumps to 223, which finally feels like some moderate energy is in the water. It's still an 8-second period, so it's not going to be firing, and that light cross-on breeze will keep it a bit lumpy. But compared to what we've had, it's a step up. Still, it's a marginal call, so don't expect perfection.

Sunday the 30th holds that slightly better energy, with the swell pushing to 5ft and a combined energy of 294. This is the peak of the window. It's still an 8-second period and a light cross-onshore wind, so it won't be clean and glassy, but there should be some rideable, albeit rough, waves. This is the best on offer. A 5ft wave is starting to get a bit big for total beginners, but anyone with some experience can have a go.

After that, it fades back out quickly, dropping to 3ft on Monday the 31st, with the energy falling back off to 133, and the wind building to a moderate cross-onshore, chopping it all up again.

So, there you go. The first two weeks are a total loss. The light at the end of the tunnel is that Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August are showing a bit more promise with moderate energy. But that's about two weeks out, and things can change. We'll have to wait and see. For now, if you're keen, a longboard and low expectations are your best bet.

Rusty out.

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