
Surf Forecasts:
Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 19s period, SSW swell with 3,920 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) in the next 16 days are 2.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (+0530) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.
Look, I'm not gonna lie to you, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for the Hikkaduwa area. We've got some serious swell energy coming through, but the wind is going to be a real pain in the neck for most of it. The real standout is going to be a short window of big, powerful groundswell, but you'll have to work for it and it's definitely not for the faint of heart.
The main break on offer is Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa). It's a reef setup, so it's for advanced surfers only, and it's fairly consistent. The water temp is sitting at 82°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We kick off with a pretty grim stretch. From Wednesday the 12th through to Sunday the 16th, it's a write-off. We're looking at onshore and cross-onshore winds around 12 mph to 16 mph, with a lot of "risk tstorm" in the forecast. Swell heights are tiny, between 3 ft and 5 ft, and the combined wave energy is weak to moderate (between 591 and 948). The surf is just poor, so don't bother.
We get a small glimmer on Monday the 17th afternoon. The wind is still a moderate cross-onshore breeze, but the swell starts to build. We see a 4 ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 21 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 1691, which is moderate. The conditions are still only marginal, but it's a hint of what's coming.
Then, here's the highlight. Tuesday the 18th is the day to watch. The swell pumps up to 8 ft from the SSW with a 19-second period. The combined energy is massive, hitting 4343 for the morning and 4129 for the afternoon – that's strong wave energy. But, and it's a big but, the wind is still a moderate cross-onshore. The surf quality is poor, but the wave state is "moderate cross-onshore and choppy". This is a big, powerful groundswell, and with that long period, it's going to be powerful and walled up. For experts only, it's worth a look if you can handle the chop. The wind is a bit better on Thursday the 20th afternoon, turning to a gentle cross-onshore, but the swell is still 7 ft to 7 ft, so it's still a heavy, advanced-only wave.
After that, from Thursday the 20th through to Monday the 24th, the size drops back to a more manageable 5 ft to 6 ft, but the wind remains a constant cross-onshore or onshore breeze. The energy is moderate (between 1040 and 2252), but the conditions are consistently marginal. It's not great, but it's better than the flat spell at the start. The best of this run is probably Saturday the 22nd afternoon with a gentle breeze and 6 ft of S swell, or that Monday the 24th morning with a 6 ft S swell and a 16-second period, but the cross-onshore wind will mess it up.
The last few days from the 25th to the 27th look like a return to poor conditions with onshore winds and smaller swell. Honestly, for the whole 16 days, the only real standout is that massive pulse on Tuesday the 18th, but it's a choppy, expert-only mission. For the rest of us, it's a lot of waiting for a clean window that never really opens up.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 53mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 11 | W 7 | SSE 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | SSE 11 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
325 | 421 | 245 | 356 | 286 | 218 | 263 | 261 | 303 | 231 | 187 | 354 | 347 | 363 | 240 | 412 | 1042 | 1397 | 3920 | 3717 | 3393 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:09PM0.65m | 2:36AM0.57m | 2:39PM0.67m | 3:07AM0.62m | 3:07PM0.68m | 3:38AM0.66m | 3:34PM0.67m | 4:08AM0.66m | 4:00PM0.64m | 4:36AM0.65m | 4:24PM0.59m | 5:04AM0.61m | 4:47PM0.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:36PM0.05m | 8:29AM0.09m | 9:00PM0.02m | 9:03AM0.08m | 9:24PM0.00m | 9:33AM0.09m | 9:48PM-0.00m | 10:02AM0.11m | 10:11PM0.01m | 10:29AM0.14m | 10:33PM0.03m | 10:56AM0.16m | 10:55PM0.06m | ||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | 5 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | W 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 21 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
224 | 191 | 245 | 356 | 228 | 218 | 263 | 259 | 303 | 231 | 187 | 286 | 245 | 249 | 240 | 184 | 1042 | 994 | 3920 | 3717 | 3393 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSE 11 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 10 | W 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 21 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
152 | 421 | 191 | 142 | 286 | 47 | 261 | 261 | 178 | 146 | 98 | 100 | 100 | 99 | 163 | 88 | 180 | 1397 | 102 | 98 | 66 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 11 | S 14 | S 20 | SSW 15 | S 21 | W 9 | S 7 | S 18 | W 10 | SW 15 | S 26 | SW 26 | SW 24 | SW 13 | SSW 22 | SSW 16 | SSE 10 | SW 12 | — | — |
325 | 38 | 100 | 30 | 146 | 133 | 44 | 23 | 156 | 53 | 176 | 13 | 26 | 22 | 87 | 412 | 100 | 133 | 37 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 5 | W 6 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 |
247 | 215 | 146 | 266 | — | 195 | 176 | 170 | 157 | 199 | 130 | 354 | 347 | 363 | 46 | 92 | 369 | 354 | 284 | 314 | 257 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 646 | 338 | 859 | 719 | 338 | 211 | 208 | 24 | 210 | 646 | 24 | 172 | 208 | 210 | 24 | 210 | 24 | 24 | 208 | 859 | 210 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa)) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) is 9 km (6 miles) from the city of Ambalangoda. If you plan a holiday in West Sri Lanka, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ambalangoda. Ambalangoda has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











