Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on offer at Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) over the next 16 days.

Look, I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough run. The water temp is sitting at 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a wetsuit, but that’s about the only easy thing going for us.

The forecast starts with a glimmer of hope on Saturday the 25th with a 4ft swell coming from the SSE, but the wind is howling from the WSW at 12 mph and it’s onshore. The combined energy is moderate (715), but with that wind and the risk of thunderstorms, it’s a no-go. Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are more of the same – onshore wind, poor conditions, and the swell hanging around 4ft to 3ft. The energy builds a bit on Sunday afternoon (1144), but the wind is still rubbish.

From Tuesday the 28th right through to Friday the 31st, we’re stuck in a rut. Small swell, mostly 3ft to 3ft, with wind swinging onshore or cross-onshore from the west at 16 mph. The energy is moderate (588 to 1351), but the surf quality is just poor. You’ll be fighting chop and a bumpy ocean.

Then we hit a bit of a spike. On Saturday the 1st of August, the swell bumps up to 4ft from the SSW, but the wind cranks up to 19 mph from the west, making it a fresh cross-onshore and lumpy mess. The energy is strong (1391), but it’s not for paddling.

Sunday the 2nd of August sees the biggest swell of the period so far – 8ft to 8ft from the west, with a short period of 7-8 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving fast, but the period is so short it’s going to be a washing machine. The energy is very strong (1275-1302), but this is expert-only territory, and even then, the wind is onshore. It’s big, but it’s ugly.

From Monday the 3rd of August through to Friday the 7th of August, the swell stays solid, between 6ft and 7ft, mostly from the west. The energy is strong (1110 to 1379), but the wind is relentless – 16 to 19 mph from the west or WNW, either onshore or cross-onshore. The setup here is a reef break, and with that much wind and short-period swell, it’s going to be choppy and hard to ride. Honestly, for a spot like this, with that wind, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The tail end of the forecast, Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of August, still has energy through the roof (2560 to 3152) with 5ft to 6ft swell from the SSW and S, but the period is long (17-20 seconds). That’s proper groundswell, which is great for the reef, but the wind is still a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph. The conditions will be lumpy and difficult.

The bottom line: There is no standout session in this 16-day window. The wind is the enemy here, and it never really lets up. The swell comes and goes, but the quality is just not there. If you’re desperate, the best chance might be the calmest moment you can find, but the forecast doesn’t show one. This is a proper blank run for the area; it’s not uncommon for the monsoon pattern to lock in like this. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, I’d leave the board at home.

Rusty.

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