
Surf Forecasts:
Hobe Sound/The Refuge surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 4s period, S swell with 28 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 0.9m 4s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hobe Sound/The Refuge over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, old mate Rusty here with a look at what’s cookin’ for the Hobe Sound stretch. Let’s be straight with each other—this ain’t a pretty picture. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a bust, so you’re gonna be waitin’ a while for anything worth paddlin’ out for.
We’re talkin’ about Hobe Sound/The Refuge—a beach and reef setup that’s exposed to the swell. The water’s sittin’ at a warm 86° right now, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year. Not much to get excited about there.
The first real chance of a wave comes up on Monday, 27 July. We’re lookin’ at a tiny 1 ft ENE swell with a period of 8 seconds. That’s weak energy (13) and the wind in the mornin’ is offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, so it’ll be clean. But the wave comment tells the story: “poor surf conditions.” There’s a score of 0. It’s just too small to do anything with.
That pattern holds for days. Tuesday the 28th, Wednesday the 29th, Thursday the 30th—all the same story. Swell heights barely hittin’ 0.7 ft, periods of 8 or 9 seconds, and energy levels in the low single digits. The wind flips around a bit, sometimes offshore, sometimes cross-off, but it doesn’t matter. There’s no wave to ride.
By Friday the 31st, we’re down to 0.3 ft swells. On Friday afternoon, the wind goes glassy from the SSW at 3 mph, and the period stretches to 10 seconds, but energy is only 5. It’s flat. Same story for Saturday, 1 August, and Sunday, 2 August. The wind turns cross-shore and then cross-onshore, and the swell stays tiny.
The next week is no better. Monday, 3 August, starts with a glassy mornin’ but only 0.7 ft of swell. From Tuesday, 4 August, through to Sunday, 9 August, we’re stuck with 0.7 ft to 2 ft swells, mostly from the SE or ESE with periods of 4 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell, and it’s short period—less than 8 seconds—so it’s weak and messy. The wind is cross-onshore or onshore, so it’s choppy. Energy levels finally climb to 37 on the 9th, but the swell is still 1 ft from the NE with a period of 9 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore. Even if it’s a little bigger, it’s sloppy.
The last few days, from Monday, 10 August, to Tuesday, 11 August, show swell heights of 2 ft to 2 ft from the SE with periods of 4 to 5 seconds. Energy is in the 20s and 30s, but the wind is cross-onshore or onshore, making it choppy. No standouts here.
The truth is, there’s not a single day in this 16-day window where the surf is worthwhile. The setup’s more interesting for a kite than a paddle, if you’re into that sort of thing. For the rest of us, it’s a long blank run. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d hang the board up and find somethin’ else to do.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 9 | SSE 3 | N 5 | E 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 | S 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 10:56AM0.95m | 11:10PM0.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:57PM0.07m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | 7 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 7 | — | 2 | 8 |
Temp °C | 29 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 5 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 5 | S 4 | E 10 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | ENE 8 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | ENE 8 | SE 4 |
12 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | — | ENE 8 | S 4 | NNE 6 | ENE 8 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | N 5 | N 5 | — | E 7 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | ENE 8 |
1 | — | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 8 | NNE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 6 | NE 6 | NE 9 | E 8 | E 7 | E 9 | E 8 | — | SE 8 | ENE 8 | — | E 8 |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | — | WSW 2 | WSW 2 | SSE 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | S 2 | W 3 | SW 3 | SSE 3 | W 3 | WSW 2 | SSE 3 | — | — | SE 3 | S 4 | — | SE 4 | S 4 |
1 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 28 | — | 7 | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 321 | 395 | 420 | 455 | 321 | 402 | 321 | 321 | 308 | 697 | 455 | 1044 | 455 | 321 | 728 | 750 | 875 | 875 | 308 | 308 | 97 |
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.










