
Surf Forecasts:
Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, S swell with 1,564 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 1.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 5PM. 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 | 5PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – this 16-day window for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) is a tough one. We’ve got a consistent run of south-southwest swell coming through, but the wind is just about always blowing onshore or cross-onshore, and that’s killing the quality. The water temp is sitting at 83°, which is a full degree warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s noticeably toasty.
We kick off on Sunday, the 19th of July. The swell is small at 3 ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, but the wind is howling onshore at 16 mph and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. The combined energy is moderate (507), but the conditions are just poor. Nothing to get excited about. Monday the 20th sees the swell pick up a bit – 4 ft in the morning, rising to 6 ft in the afternoon from the S, with a long 18-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, but the cross-onshore wind at 12–16 mph has it messy and choppy. Energy is strong (1606–1917), but the surf is marginal at best. The S direction isn’t matching the optimum SW direction for this reef, and the wind is a dealbreaker.
Tuesday the 21st through to Sunday the 27th of July is a real grind. The swell hangs around 2 ft to 5 ft, mostly from the SSW or SSE, with periods between 10 and 16 seconds. The wind stays stubbornly onshore or cross-onshore, 9–16 mph, and the energy is mostly moderate to strong (343–1068). But every single session is rated as poor surf. It’s not worth paddling out – the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, with that consistent wind and choppy water.
Now, there’s a little flicker of hope around the end of the month. On the 29th of July, Wednesday afternoon, we get a glimpse of something better: 3 ft from the SSW with a very long 20-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1505. Still cross-onshore and choppy, but that period is special. Then on Thursday the 30th, the swell is 3–4 ft from the SSW, 18-second period, and the energy is strong (1565–1661). Still cross-onshore, but the waves will have more push and shape. Friday the 31st of July sees the biggest swell of the run – 5–6 ft from the SSW, 17–18 seconds, and energy is very strong (2116–2301). But again, the cross-onshore wind at 16 mph and the risk of thunderstorms mean it’s all poor surf quality. For experts only, if they’re desperate.
The first week of August is more of the same. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd have 3–5 ft SSW swell, moderate to strong energy, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. Monday the 3rd of August has the last kick: 5–6 ft from the SSW, 17–18 seconds, and very strong energy (1982–2034). But it’s another poor surf day with onshore wind.
The only standout that might be worth a look is Monday the 20th of July, but only if you’re an advanced surfer and can handle the chop. The swell is 6 ft from the S, 16-second period, and the energy is strong (1917). The direction is close to the optimum SW, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but don’t expect perfection. The rest of the window is a write-off – gaps of days with no real recommendations. The conditions are just too windy and messy. We’ll see if the forecasts change, but for now, leave the board on the roof.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSE 10 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
242 | 285 | 303 | 899 | 1564 | 858 | 957 | 813 | 618 | 572 | 480 | 344 | 113 | 123 | 254 | 217 | 214 | 229 | 382 | 240 | 394 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:57PM0.59m | 5:50AM0.57m | 5:25PM0.53m | 6:30AM0.53m | 5:53PM0.47m | 7:16AM0.49m | 6:20PM0.40m | 8:24AM0.45m | 6:51PM0.33m | 10:19AM0.43m | 10:43PM0.29m | 11:58AM0.45m | 00:38AM0.31m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:57AM0.19m | 11:17PM0.07m | 11:33AM0.22m | 11:45PM0.10m | 12:12PM0.26m | 00:14AM0.14m | 1:03PM0.29m | 00:48AM0.18m | 2:53PM0.31m | 1:41AM0.21m | 7:10PM0.26m | 4:00AM0.23m | 7:30PM0.21m | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | |
mm | 4 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 |
242 | 285 | 303 | 473 | 1564 | 858 | 957 | 813 | 618 | 572 | 480 | 344 | 110 | 123 | 254 | 180 | 189 | 209 | 349 | 240 | 234 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 18 | W 10 | S 12 | W 9 | SE 8 | SW 18 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SSW 14 |
120 | 128 | 157 | 899 | 154 | 333 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 55 | 50 | 102 | 85 | 81 | 54 | 217 | 214 | 229 | 382 | 167 | 394 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | W 10 | SSW 13 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 |
49 | 37 | 70 | 154 | 125 | 122 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 24 | 35 | 41 | 113 | 53 | 201 | 50 | 34 | 80 | 77 | 74 | 86 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WSW 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 5 | WNW 6 | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | WNW 5 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 |
96 | 94 | 67 | 80 | 74 | 55 | 287 | 240 | 153 | 32 | 31 | 22 | 35 | 43 | 19 | 14 | 28 | 28 | 37 | 58 | 77 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 210 | 738 | 338 | 210 | 210 | 205 | 205 | 738 | 24 | 739 | 739 | 24 | 719 | 739 | 58 | 211 | 739 | 58 | 210 | 738 | 211 |
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.










