Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s look at what’s cooking near Hikkaduwa.

Right now, it’s pretty quiet. The only spot worth talking about is Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) , a shallow reef break for the more experienced crew. The forecast starts on Friday the 21st of August with some swell, but conditions are ugly. You’ve got a 5ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is onshore and there are thunderstorms around. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

That first Friday is a total loss – poor surf, choppy and messy. Saturday the 22nd sees the swell rise to 6ft from the south, with a 15-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s all chop. The wave energy is moderate to strong (1731), but it’s not clean. Sunday the 23rd is still onshore, and the swell drops a bit. By Monday the 24th, the swell fades to 3ft but the period stretches to 17 seconds – long period groundswell, but the wind is still onshore and it’s just not happening.

The whole first week is a grind. The wind stays onshore from the west or west-south-west, and the surf quality is poor to marginal. There’s moderate energy in the water – values between 800 and 1500 – but it’s never matched with good wind. The reef is exposed to the southwest swell, which is the right direction, but the wind is the problem.

Into the second week, we get some size. Monday the 31st of August has a 8ft SSW swell with an 18-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell, packing serious energy (3586). But again, onshore wind and thunderstorms. This size is for experts only, especially with that long period; it’ll be lining up well on the reef, but it’ll be a fight in the wind. Tuesday the 1st of September is similar, 7ft from the SSW, still onshore.

The best chance, and I mean the only real chance, is around Thursday the 3rd of September. The swell drops to 6ft from the south with a 13-second period, and the wind finally lightens up. The afternoon shows a gentle breeze, some clouds, and marginal conditions – not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve seen in two weeks. The energy is moderate (1658), and the direction is good for the reef. If you pick your tide, you might snag a few clean ones.

After that, it fades into the 4th and 5th of September with small, onshore slop.

This is a rough stretch. There’s plenty of swell, sometimes a lot, but the wind just won’t cooperate. If you’re a solid surfer and you’re keen, the 3rd of September afternoon is your window. Otherwise, sit tight. Things can turn around, but for now, Hikkaduwa is not playing nice.

Rusty.

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