
Surf Forecasts:
Hobe Sound/The Refuge surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 4s period, SSE swell with 24 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hobe Sound/The Refuge this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Hobe Sound/The Refuge in the next 16 days are 0.8m 4s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hobe Sound/The Refuge over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me break it down for you. Rusty here, looking at the Hobe Sound/The Refuge stretch. This is a beach and reef setup, works best with a NE swell, and it’s a fairly consistent spot, so we’ve got hope.
Right now, the water’s sitting at 85°F, which is about average for this time of year, no surprises there.
Honestly, I gotta be straight with you—this 16-day window is a tough one. The first week and a half are pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at teeny tiny waves, mostly 0.7ft to 1ft, with a short period of 8 seconds. That’s just not enough energy to surf. The combined wave energy is weak, barely getting into double digits (12 to 22). The wind’s all over the place, and while we get some glassy or offshore moments, there’s just no swell to work with.
We have a gap from now until the end of July with nothing worth paddling out for. Then through the first few days of August, the swell has a pulse with a 5-second period—still too short and weak (energy in the 16 to 54 range). The waves are around 2ft to 3ft, but the wind is often cross-shore or onshore, and the quality is poor. This setup is honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now, with that cross-chop and light wind ripples.
The only real standout, if you’re desperate, is the morning of Wednesday, July 29th. We’ve got a moderate offshore wind from the WSW at 15 mph, which will clean things up nicely. But the swell is only 0.7ft with 8 seconds—it’s tiny. You’ll be on a longboard or a foamie, catching knee-high dribblers. The break is exposed to the swell, and the direction is ENE, which is close to the optimum. Still, it’s not a day to get excited about.
Later, around August 8th and 9th, we see a slight bump in period to 9-10 seconds and a swell from the NE, which is more favourable. The wave height is still only 1ft to 2ft, though. The combined energy climbs to 51-69, which is still weak. The wind is cross-onshore, so it won’t be clean.
Bottom line: Nothing here is a standout. The best bet is probably the morning of July 29th for the cleanest conditions, but it’s marginal. If you’re a beginner, the tiny waves are safe, but they won’t give you much. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | NE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 | SSE 4 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 6:42PM0.86m | 6:41AM0.83m | 7:26PM0.90m | 7:26AM0.85m | 8:06PM0.94m | 8:09AM0.88m | 8:45PM0.97m | 8:51AM0.91m | 9:22PM0.98m | 9:32AM0.92m | 9:58PM0.98m | 10:14AM0.94m | 10:33PM0.97m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:49AM0.20m | 1:04PM0.03m | 1:32AM0.18m | 1:44PM0.01m | 2:11AM0.15m | 2:22PM0.00m | 2:49AM0.12m | 3:00PM0.00m | 3:26AM0.09m | 3:37PM0.01m | 4:02AM0.06m | 4:16PM0.03m | 4:40AM0.03m | |||||||
— | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
8:12 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:08 | — | |
mm | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | — | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 34 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 35 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 29 | 31 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | SSE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 5 | ENE 9 | E 9 | SSE 4 | S 4 | N 5 | S 4 | S 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
20 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ENE 8 | S 4 | — | ENE 8 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | ENE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 9 | N 6 | NE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
1 | 12 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 7 | — | N 6 | NE 6 | N 3 | E 8 | NE 6 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | N 6 | N 6 | E 6 | E 10 | E 7 | E 7 | — | — | ENE 8 |
— | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | S 4 | — | S 2 | WSW 3 | — | S 2 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | W 2 | WSW 3 | SSE 2 | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 |
1 | 7 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 14 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 321 | 92 | 321 | 321 | 402 | 637 | 395 | 1252 | 395 | 395 | 413 | 321 | 321 | 547 | 894 | 321 | 384 | 1001 | 301 | 637 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Florida | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Hobe Sound/The Refuge Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Hobe Sound/The Refuge provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Hobe Sound/The Refuge can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Hobe Sound/The Refuge surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Hobe Sound/The Refuge) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Hobe Sound/The Refuge may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Hobe Sound/The Refuge is 14 km (9 miles) from Palm City. If you plan a vacation in South Florida, look for hotels and other accommodation in Palm City. Palm City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










