Hilton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what’s shaking for this stretch.

Honestly, it’s a quiet spell. We’re looking at a long gap of tiny, weak waves and mostly poor conditions. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Monday the 31st of August, but even then it’s a struggle. The water temp is sitting at 85°F – a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a wetsuit.

For the first few days, the swell is small and the wind is a problem. Monday morning has a 4ft swell from the NW with a short 8-second period and light onshore wind, combined energy of the swells is moderate at 133 – but the surf report says poor. It’s not worth paddling for. Monday afternoon stays onshore and drops to 3ft. Tuesday the 1st of September morning goes glassy with 2ft from the NW, but the period is short (7 seconds) and the energy is weak (54). The comment says “surfable but very ordinary” – and that’s the best of the opening few days. After that, we’re in a flat spell with wave heights under 3ft, often glassy mornings but no push.

The only break in the game is Hilton – a reef and jetty setup that’s exposed to the swell. It’s a beginner wave, but it’s inconsistent, and it rarely holds much size. The optimum swell direction here is WSW, but the forecast is all NW and WNW – so the angle is off. The crowd factor is “often” busy, so if you do chance it, expect company.

The next real glimmer comes on Wednesday the 9th of September. The morning brings a 3ft swell from the WNW with a period of 8 seconds and glassy wind. The combined energy of the swells even jumps to 117 (moderate) – the best energy reading in the whole period. But the comment still only says “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s a small window, but if you’re desperate, that’s the pick.

After that, the swell fades away again. From the 10th onward, it’s all under 2ft with short periods and choppy afternoons. The last week is a write-off – tiny 1.0ft to 1ft waves with a period of 4 or 5 seconds and combined energy in the single digits. That’s barely a ripple.

If you must get wet, the standout is the morning of Wednesday the 9th of September at Hilton. But it’s not a classic. For the rest of the time, it’s a long, flat run. The setup doesn’t look like much for paddle surfing – might be more interesting for kite surfing if the wind picks up. But for now, I’d keep the board in the car and wait for a better forecast.

Rusty.

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