Hilton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this outlook is a tough one. There’s not a single recommended surf day in the whole 16 days, so I’ll just walk you through what we’re looking at and why it’s so flat.

The only break on the list is Hilton, a reef setup that’s rated for beginners. It’s inconsistent and exposed to the swell, but the problem is the swell just isn’t showing up. The optimum swell direction here is WSW, but the whole forecast is seeing tiny, weak pulses from the WNW. Not a match.

Starting Saturday, July 11, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the WNW with a period of just 6 seconds – that’s windswell, barely a ripple. The combined energy is only 20 – weak. The wind is cross-on from the WSW at 3 mph, but that’s not enough to fix the fact that there’s no real wave. Water temp is 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, but that’s about the only interesting thing here.

Sunday July 12 is even smaller – 1ft, same short period, combined energy 13. The wind is still cross-on. Monday July 13 nudges up to 2ft but the period is still 6 seconds, so it’s just messy little lumps. Combined energy hits 34. Still labeled poor surf conditions.

The next week barely changes. Wednesday July 15 sees the swell period climb to 8 seconds for the first time, and the height reaches 3ft by the afternoon. Combined energy gets to 88 – still weak, but closer to something. Winds are cross-on, mainly light from the SW. But the wave comment says poor surf, and there’s no score. Thursday July 16 is similar with 3ft and 8-second period in the morning, energy 91. That’s the best combined energy of the whole run, but it’s still not enough to get a recommendation.

From Friday July 17 through the end of the period, we’re stuck in a pattern of 1ft to 2ft swell, mostly 6-second periods, with cross-on or onshore winds. The 21st of July drops back to 1ft and 15 energy. The 25th and 26th see a tiny bump to 2ft and 3ft but with 6-second period, so it’s just wind chop.

For a spot like Hilton, which is an inconsistent reef, a blank run like this is more normal than unusual. There’s no standout, no window of clean glassy conditions, no decent sized swell. If you’re a kitesurfer, the constant cross-on wind might give you something, but for paddle surfing, it’s a complete write-off.

Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a 16-day stretch of nearly nothing. Hang the board up, or go for a swim.

Rusty

Read more