Surf Forecasts:
Hobe Sound/The Refuge surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NE swell with 375 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hobe Sound/The Refuge this week:
The surf forecast for Hobe Sound/The Refuge over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hobe Sound/The Refuge in the next 16 days are 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hobe Sound/The Refuge over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening for the Hobe Sound area in the coming days.
I’ve got to be honest with you, it’s a pretty grim outlook for the first nine days. From Sunday the 13th all the way through Monday the 21st, we’re looking at flat to near-flat conditions. The swell is tiny, barely a ripple, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping things messy. The water temp is a warm 86°, a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so the water feels good, but there’s nothing to ride.
The first real chance of a surf shows up on Tuesday the 22nd. The morning at Hobe Sound/The Refuge (Hobe-Sound) shows a small pulse. The swell is only 3 ft from the NNE, with a period of 9 seconds. The energy is moderate at 141. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SW, which will keep the surface clean. The wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions", so it’s not going to be epic, but it’s the first thing worth paddling out for all week.
After that, it’s back to the same old story. The rest of the week and into the next weekend sees the swell building to 5 ft to 6 ft by Wednesday the 25th through Saturday the 27th, but the wind cranks up out of the NE at 15-18 mph, creating lumpy, choppy conditions. The wave energy climbs, hitting values of 275 to 363, but it’s all short-period windswell (7-8 seconds). This is not the kind of surf you want to be out in unless you’re looking for a fight. For the experts, there might be a few heavy closeouts, but it’s not a good call for most.
Monday the 28th brings a change in the swell character, with the period lengthening to 10 seconds and the energy spiking to 569 in the afternoon. But again, the wind is onshore and the conditions are described as poor. The swell height is 5 ft, but with that cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a choppy mess. Not a standout.
So, the only real window here is that Tuesday the 22nd morning. It’s small, it’s not powerful, but it’s the cleanest we’re going to get. For everyone else, it’s time to find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed night, light winds from the NNE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ESE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 10 | NE 5 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 69 | 271 | 322 | 363 | 281 | 266 | 214 | 149 | 126 | 99 | 67 | 44 | 33 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:53AM1.22m | 10:03PM1.15m | 10:35AM1.17m | 10:42PM1.10m | 11:16AM1.11m | 11:22PM1.05m | 11:58AM1.05m | 00:04AM0.99m | 12:44PM0.98m | 00:51AM0.95m | 1:37PM0.94m | 1:44AM0.91m | 2:37PM0.92m | 2:45AM0.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:03PM0.15m | 4:21AM0.06m | 4:45PM0.20m | 5:03AM0.12m | 5:28PM0.27m | 5:47AM0.19m | 6:14PM0.33m | 6:35AM0.25m | 7:04PM0.39m | 7:31AM0.30m | 8:03PM0.43m | 8:32AM0.33m | 9:08PM0.45m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — |
 | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 10 | E 9 | NNE 8 | E 9 | E 13 | E 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 2 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 271 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 266 | 214 | 149 | 126 | 99 | 67 | 44 | 33 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | S 3 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 9 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 5 | S 4 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 7 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | SE 4 | SE 8 | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 13 | E 13 | — | E 12 | E 12 | E 7 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 4 | SSE 2 | — | SSE 4 | — | — | — | NE 5 | SE 4 | NNE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 69 | 2 | 322 | 363 | 281 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 92 | 301 | 92 | 308 | 1758 | 377 | 700 | 700 | 776 | 906 | 1258 | 728 | 359 | 359 | 321 | 359 | 321 | 0 | 73 | 321 | 321 |
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.
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