Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, my friends, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks at Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa). We’ve got some serious size on the way, but the wind is just going to mess it all up. It’s gonna be a battle against the chop.

To start things off on Tuesday the 18th, we’ve got a solid 7ft of SSW groundswell with a long 19-second period. That’s a lot of energy, the models are showing a big 4013 in the combined energy department. But the wind is 20 km/h from the WNW, right across the face. It’s gonna be choppy and messy. This is not for the faint of heart, you’d need to be an expert to get any kind of ride. The water’s warm, about 82°, which is pretty standard, so no worries there.

Wednesday the 19th is more of the same, a little smaller but just as messy. The next several days, through the weekend, the swell eases but that cross-onshore wind doesn't. The 22nd and 23rd see the waves drop to the 5ft to 6ft range, but the wind goes more onshore. This is just a mess, flat-out poor conditions. Not worth the paddle.

The whole following week, from the 24th of August through the 30th, is looking small and weak, with waves mostly in the 3ft to 5ft range. The periods are still okay, but the quality is totally lacking with that wind. We're talking about an 8-9 day stretch of nothing that looks appealing. The energy drops into the moderate range, but it doesn't matter when it's all blown out.

Heading into the final week, starting August 31st, the size starts to pick back up. We’re forecast to see waves back in the 5ft to 8ft range by the 1st of September, and the energy is strong again. But the wind is still modeled to be on it, and the surf reports are still calling it poor. It looks like more of the same – big, raw, and messy. This is second week stuff, so don’t get too excited until we’re closer.

The bottom line is that there is no true standout day in this forecast. The biggest letdown is that we have the swell, but the wind just won’t cooperate. For a reef break like this, you need that clean offshore flow to make it glassy and perfect. Instead, we’re looking at a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. The best chance we had was the 18th with that big groundswell, but even then, the wind was going to ruin it.

There’s a long gap with nothing good on offer from around the 20th to the end of the month. That’s over a week of no good surf. A blank run, but it happens. The direction is right, all that SSW swell, for this spot, so when the wind finally plays nice, it’ll be on. Until then, grab a different board or find a hobby. Keep an eye on it, though. Forecasts can change.

Rusty out.

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