Surf Forecasts:
Hobe Sound/The Refuge surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, SSE swell with 74 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 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hobe Sound/The Refuge over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up for Hobe Sound/The Refuge.
To be straight with you, the next two weeks in the water are flat. There’s nothing on the table that’s worth paddling out for. The swell just isn’t making it here, and what little energy shows up is weak and short-period. We’re staring at a long stretch of small, messy surf with barely enough push to stand up on. The first glimmer of anything that might be called a wave isn’t even on the radar.
The whole 16-day run is a gap. Day after day, the wave energy is really low, sitting in the single digits or just barely scraping into the low double digits (31 to 58). The swell heights stay under 3 ft the entire time, mostly dropping to 0.3 ft or 0.7 ft, with periods that are short, only 4 to 8 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell, so it’s weak and gutless. The wind is also a problem – it’s almost always cross or cross-onshore, which makes those tiny waves messy and choppy.
There is a moment on the morning of Saturday, July 25th, where the wind goes glassy from the SW, and the swell is only 1 ft from the ENE. That sounds clean, but it’s just a tiny, gutless bump. Not enough to ride. The afternoon of Monday, July 27th, also has a brief glassy moment with 1.0 ft, but again, it’s just a ripple. On the morning of Friday, July 31st, we get a 0.3 ft wave from the NE with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore, but 0.3 ft is barely a puddle ripple.
The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
If you’re desperate for a paddle, you’ll be sitting on a board with no waves. This setup is more interesting for a kite than a surfboard. Honestly, just take the time off, wax a longboard, and hope the forecasts change. It tends not to stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Sun night, min 27°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | E 8 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 34 | 23 | 39 | 48 | 21 | 19 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 00:39AM0.95m | 1:18PM0.91m | 1:26AM0.89m | 2:11PM0.87m | 2:15AM0.84m | 3:07PM0.83m | 3:08AM0.80m | 4:04PM0.81m | 4:04AM0.78m | 5:01PM0.81m | 5:00AM0.78m | 5:54PM0.83m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:14AM-0.03m | 7:39PM0.12m | 8:06AM0.01m | 8:34PM0.17m | 9:00AM0.04m | 9:29PM0.21m | 9:53AM0.07m | 10:23PM0.23m | 10:45AM0.08m | 11:15PM0.23m | 11:35AM0.07m | 00:03AM0.22m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 8:15 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — |
mm | 8 | — | 4 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | ENE 8 | ESE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | ESE 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 4 | E 8 | E 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | NE 10 | E 8 | E 8 | — | SE 8 | — | — | E 8 | — | E 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | — | ESE 3 | SE 3 | — | SE 4 | SE 3 |
| kJ | 34 | 23 | 39 | 48 | 21 | 19 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 10 | — | 1 | 4 | — | 2 | 6 | — | 6 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 360 | 308 | 301 | 87 | 1003 | 1589 | 253 | 244 | 293 | 238 | 184 | 697 | 308 | 92 | 301 | 92 | 42 | 384 | 42 |
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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