Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checkin' the charts for the Hikkaduwa area. Got to be honest, it's a rough outlook. The next couple of weeks look like a long, tough stretch for a decent paddle. We're looking at a long run of poor surf, with maybe a tiny glimpse of something better way down the line.

The biggest problem is that stubborn onshore and cross-onshore wind out of the west. It's just ruining everything. The swell is around, but it's all chopped up. For the first week, from Tuesday the 14th through the weekend, it's surfable but not surf-friendly. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate, starting around 957 and dropping to 552, but the wind is making a mess of it. The water temp is 83°F, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won't be cold while you're getting frustrated.

There's a bit of a gap here with no real recommendations, but it's not a flat spell. It's just consistently poor. For a spot like Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa), which is a fairly consistent reef, it's a shame. The ideal swell is from the SW, and we see that direction, but the wind is from the wrong side. The swell height is around 3 ft to 4 ft, so small to small-ish, but the period is decently long, often 14 to 16 seconds, so there's some groundswell energy in the water. It's just not going to be clean.

The forecast shifts a little around the 20th of July. That Monday morning, the combined energy jumps up to 1501, but the wind is still cross-onshore. The swell is from the S, 4 ft, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That sets up a bit of a standout for the afternoon of the 20th, and into Tuesday the 21st. The swell gets a bit bigger, around 5 ft, and the period stays very long. The wind is still not ideal, but it's a little less aggressive. This is the only time in the whole window where we see a "marginal" rating instead of "poor". For a reef, that long period swell (over 15 seconds) can mean the waves are better shaped and more powerful, but it can make them fat and straight on a beach break. Inside Reef being a reef, it's better suited for that.

But honestly, with the wind being mostly cross-onshore, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing most days. The real standout, if you can call it that, is the afternoon of the 20th and the morning of the 21st of July. It's the only time the swell size (5 ft) and the long period combine to give it some punch, even with the wind factor. The swell is from the S, a touch off from the ideal SW, but it's close. The crowds at Inside Reef are "sometimes", so you might get a bit of company, but it's not a circus.

After that, it's back to the same story. The wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, the swell drops, and the conditions are poor. We see a few more marginal calls on the 28th of July, but that's a long way off and the confidence is low. For now, your best bet is to wait for that brief window around the 20th and 21st, and maybe keep an eye on the 28th as a long-shot, less certain possibility.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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