Hobe Sound/The Refuge Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mates, Rusty here again. Gotta be straight with you – the next sixteen days are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for the Hobe Sound/The Refuge area. The data is telling a consistent story of small, weak, and often messy conditions. There’s no standout swell on the horizon, so we’re in for a long stretch of waiting.

Let’s start with the immediate outlook. From Wednesday the 2nd right through the first week, we’re looking at tiny waves – mostly 0.6ft to 2ft. The swell is coming from the east and southeast, with periods mostly under 8 seconds, so it’s all short-period wind chop. The combined energy is low, often in the single digits or low twenties (like 27 or 32), which confirms there’s just no power in the water. On top of that, we’ve got a mix of onshore, cross-onshore, and cross winds, with a lot of “risk tstorm” in the forecast, so it’s not going to be clean. The water temp is sitting at 86°F with a 1° anomaly, so it’s just about average for this time of year – warm and soupy.

There are a couple of brief moments of glassy or clean conditions – like the early morning of Sunday the 6th with a 0.6ft swell and a cross-offshore wind, or Sunday afternoon with glassy conditions and a tiny 0.3ft wave. But honestly, that’s barely a ripple. It’s not surfable.

Moving into the second week, nothing changes. From the 9th onward, we see a slight bump in energy on the 9th itself, with the swell picking up to 3ft from the northeast and a period of 10 seconds, giving a combined energy of 181. That’s moderate energy, but it’s still labeled “poor surf conditions” and the wind is onshore. That’s about as close to a pulse as we get, but it’s not enough to get excited about. The rest of the week is back to the same old story: 0.3ft to 3ft, short periods, and mostly onshore or cross-shore winds.

There is no real standout session here. The best on offer might be the morning of the 13th, where we’ve got a tiny 0.6ft wave from the ESE with a 9-second period, a clear sky, and a light cross-offshore wind. It’ll be clean, but it’s barely a dribble. For a spot like Hobe Sound/The Refuge, which is a beach and reef setup exposed to the NE, we’re just not getting the right swell direction or size to make anything happen. Crowds are “sometimes” a thing here, but with conditions this poor, you’ll have the place to yourself.

Overall, it’s a quiet period. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the 13th morning is your best bet, but keep expectations on the floor. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty

Read more