
Surf Forecasts:
Hobe Sound/The Refuge surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, SSE swell with 64 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 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hobe Sound/The Refuge over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, and we’re lookin’ at a long flat spell around Hobe Sound/The Refuge. I won’t sugarcoat it – the energy is just gone. The combined swell energy is weak across the board, and just about every session is rated a total dud. It’s a real quiet stretch.
We’ve got a massive gap before anythin’ worth paddlin’ out for shows up. The first real glimmer isn’t until the morning of Saturday, August 1st. That’s almost two weeks of tiny, weak, messy surf. For the first couple weeks, we’re seein’ swell heights mostly under 1 foot, often just 0.6 to 1 foot, with real short periods. Winds are mostly side or side-on, keepin’ things choppy and ugly. There are a few glassy windows, like the morning of July 29th with a flat-calm glassy 0.6 foot swell from the east at 9 seconds, or July 30th morning with a glassy 0.6 foot east-northeast swell at 11 seconds. But with that tiny size, you’re barely bobbin’ around.
A couple of mornings on July 27th and 28th offer a light offshore breeze from the south-southwest, givin’ us clean conditions. The swell is still tiny, just 0.6 to 1 foot, so it’s a log or a funboard kinda session. The water temp on the 17th was 86°, and with a 2° anomaly, it’s a bit toastier than normal for this time of year – nothin’ crazy, but you’ll feel it.
The one and only standout, the session worth circlin’ on the calendar, is the morning of Saturday, August 1st. We get a gentle offshore wind from the west at 9 mph, keepin’ the surface clean. The swell bumps up just a touch to 1 feet, comin’ from the south with a short period of 4 seconds. It’s not gonna be powerful, but it’s the cleanest, most rideable window in the whole forecast. The combined energy is weak at 13, so don’t expect much push, but for a slow, glassy glide on a longboard, that’s your window. This spot can get a crowd sometimes, but with conditions like this, you might just have it to yourself.
Bottom line: it’s a tough forecast. A whole lot of zero-score days and a long wait. If you’re gonna pick one time to get wet, make it that August 1st morning. Otherwise, it’s a lot of lookin’ at flat water. Hang tight.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 27°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 7 | SSE 5 | ENE 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | ENE 8 | SE 5 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 40 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 8 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:09PM1.06m | 11:35AM1.01m | 11:54PM1.01m | 12:26PM0.96m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:59PM-0.10m | 5:30AM-0.08m | 5:51PM-0.03m | 6:22AM-0.06m | 6:44PM0.05m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 34 | 27 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ESE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ESE 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 4 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | SE 4 | ENE 8 |
8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | NE 9 | NE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 4 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | — |
1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | NE 9 | — | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | SE 8 | — |
— | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | SSE 5 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | — | SE 5 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — | ESE 4 |
7 | 40 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 14 | — | 14 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 9 | — | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1758 | 1259 | 1050 | 253 | 253 | 1001 | 308 | 287 | 851 | 875 | 253 | 360 | 308 | 253 | 112 | 1071 | 253 | 308 | 308 | 360 |
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.










