Hilton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a honest look at what Hilton’s got lined up for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the forecast is a bit of a shocker to start. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with almost nothing worth paddling out for. For the first ten days or so, from Wednesday the 22nd of July all the way into the start of August, the surf is just plain poor. The swell is tiny and weak with combined energy rarely getting out of double digits, and most of the time it's hanging around a paltry 1 ft to a max of 4 ft. Wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, which just ruins what little shape there is.

There is one small spike around Saturday the 25th of July morning where we see the combined swell energy jump up to 394 (moderate energy), with swell hitting 6 ft and period at 8 seconds. But here’s the kicker – it’s a cross-onshore wind, so it’s going to be a messy, choppy mess. If you’re desperate, you could look, but it ain't gonna be pretty.

Now, after what feels like an eternity of flat, junk surf, we finally get a glimmer of hope. On Sunday the 2nd of August morning, things start to change. The wind goes glassy – dead calm – and we get a surfable if very ordinary 2 ft swell from the WNW with a 7-second period. The combined energy is still weak at 48, but it’s clean. Then Monday the 3rd of August morning, same deal: glassy conditions and a slightly better 3 ft WNW swell (62 energy). Tuesday the 4th of August morning also offers glassy 2 ft. These mornings are your only real shot. The water temperature is sitting at 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – makes the wait a little more bearable.

Hilton is an exposed reef break, and it’s inconsistent, so you need the stars to align. The optimum swell is from the WSW, but we’re seeing mostly WNW, so it’s not a perfect match. These little windows on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of August mornings are the standout period, but it’s strictly for beginners and longboarders given the size – nothing remotely challenging. The combined energy never breaks into three digits, so it’s weak out there.

Also, expect a few others around if you go – crowds are listed as "sometimes", so you might have company.

So to sum it up: the next week and a half is a write-off. Then we get three mornings of clean, glassy but weak surf. It’s not epic, but after this drought, it’ll feel like a blessing. Hang in there.

Rusty

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