Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with ya – it’s a rough patch ahead for the Hikkaduwa area. We’re looking at a 16-day window that’s pretty much a write-off for any decent surf, so don’t get your hopes up. The only spot on the cards is Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa), an advanced reef break that’s fairly consistent, but the conditions just aren’t playing ball.

Right from the start, Friday the 10th of July, we’ve got a 7 ft WNW swell rolling in, but it’s blown out by a 16 mph cross-onshore wind. The wave energy is moderate at 1705, but the quality is poor. That same story carries through Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th – swell hanging around 6 ft to 6 ft from the west, but the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy drops off a bit. It’s all messy and choppy, not worth paddling out for.

By Monday the 13th, the morning’s still a write-off with 6 ft swell and a cross-on breeze, but the afternoon sees a drop to 2 ft with a very long-period 19 second SSW groundswell. That long period is a tease for a reef break like this, but the energy is still weak at 879, and the cross-on wind ruins it. Tuesday the 14th through to the end of the first week offers nothing better – cross-on winds, moderate energy in the 800-1000 range, and swell sizes that never clean up.

The second week doesn’t bring any relief. From Sunday the 19th of July, we’re stuck with cross-on winds and SSW swell that’s either too small or still blown out. The energy levels stay moderate, hitting 1174 by Monday the 20th, but the wind’s still a problem. Later in the week, around Wednesday the 22nd, there’s a spike in energy to 2022, with a 4 ft SSW swell and a very long 19 second period – that’s serious groundswell potential – but the cross-on WNW wind and risk of thunderstorms squash any hope. The swell gets bigger towards the 24th and 25th, with 5 ft to 6 ft S and SSW swell and energy up to 2148, but the wind stays cross-on, and it’s all labelled as poor surf.

So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there’s no standout. If you’re desperate, the Wednesday the 22nd morning has that 4 ft SSW groundswell with a 19 second period and a whisper of a chance, but the cross-on breeze and storm risk make it a gamble for experts only. For the rest of us, it’s a long stretch of flat or blown-out days. The water’s about average for the time of year, so no anomalies to get excited about. Hang in there, mate – forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a solid 16-day gap with nothing to recommend.

Rusty.

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