Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a real look at what’s coming for the Hikkaduwa region over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the outlook is a tough one. Right from the start, there’s no surf on offer worth paddling out for. The conditions are just not cooperating. There’s a gap that lasts for days, and it’s a real shame because the energy is there, but the wind and the quality kill it.

The first real sniff of anything comes on Wednesday the 22nd of July. Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) has a 4ft swell from the south with a solid 13-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (726). The wind is on from the west though, so it’s not clean. The rating is a zero, and it’s a marginal call – tide might be a factor, but honestly, it’s not a goer.

Thursday the 23rd drops off. Swell fades to 3ft, period drops to 10 seconds, energy drops to 391. Still onshore wind. Not worth the walk.

Friday the 24th is a bit of a tease. Still small at 2ft, but the period jumps to 15 seconds, so there’s some long-period groundswell in the mix. Energy is 435. But again, the wind is on from the west-southwest and then west. The forecast says “poor surf conditions.” That’s a hard pass.

The weekend into early next week is a write-off. Saturday the 25th sees 4ft from the SSE, but with a risk of thunderstorms and a moderate breeze onshore. Energy hits 852, but it’s messy. Sunday the 26th bumps up to 5ft and 11 seconds, with energy just over 1000 (1018), but the wind is still onshore and the conditions are poor. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are more of the same – cross-onshore wind, chop, and poor surf.

Then we get into the last few days of July and the first week of August. The swell picks up, but the wind stays stubborn. Wednesday the 29th has a very long-period swell of 21 seconds from the SSW, with energy at 1202, but the cross-onshore wind makes it choppy. Thursday the 30th is similar: 18-second period, energy in the 1300s, but the wind is a problem. Friday the 31st has 4ft from the SSW, 17-second period, 1162 energy. Still poor.

Into August, the swell gets bigger. Sunday the 2nd of August has 5ft from the WNW, but it’s fresh cross-onshore and lumpy. Monday the 3rd has a 20-second period swell, energy at 1718, but the wind is cross-onshore. The biggest energy comes on Tuesday the 4th of August, with 6ft from the SSW at 17-18 seconds, and energy readings of 2255 and 2352. That is strong energy. But the forecast says “poor surf conditions” and “moderate cross-onshore and choppy.” That is a lot of power, but it’s going to be a bumpy, blown-out mess at Inside Reef, which is a reef break. For a reef, the wind direction is critical, and it’s just not lining up. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report here.

So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there isn’t a true standout. The whole 16-day window is plagued by onshore and cross-onshore westerly winds. The swell is there, especially the long-period groundswell in the second week, but the quality is consistently poor. If you’re desperate, the early morning of Saturday the 25th of July might have the cleanest conditions, but with a risk of a thunderstorm, it’s a gamble. The best energy is around Tuesday the 4th of August, but the wind is a killer. It’s a frustrating forecast, but it’s a normal run for this area when the monsoon patterns set in. The forecasts can always change, but for now, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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