Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for our local waters.

To be honest, the outlook for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) is a tough one to get excited about for the next week or so. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and we’ve got a lot of "risk tstorm" weather hanging around. The water temp is sitting at 82°, which is about average for this time of year, so no shocks there.

The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t roll in until Sunday afternoon, 18 August. Up until then, we’re looking at a solid 8-day stretch of poor surf conditions - mostly cross-onshore breezes blowing out the surface, and the swell energy is just not cooperating. It’s a long gap with nothing worth paddling out for.

Come Sunday morning the 18th, the swell jumps up to 6 ft from the SSW with a long 19-second period, and the combined energy is strong (3151). The wind is onshore though, so it’s a bit of a tease. That afternoon, the swell hits 7 ft, but the wind swings cross-onshore and the conditions get choppy. The real standout here is Monday 19 August morning: a solid 7 ft SSW swell, with a 17-second period and very strong energy (3350). That’s a big groundswell pushing in. Because it’s a reef break, the long period will work well here, giving you proper shape and power. But the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a battle with chop. This is advanced-level surf – over 8 ft, so strictly for the experienced crew. The crowd factor is "sometimes", so you might not have it all to yourself, but it’s not a circus.

The long period also means longer lulls between sets, which helps with the paddle out. The swell direction is SSW, which is a bit off the optimum SW, but it’s close enough to get some good lines. The wind is the main issue; it’s not offshore, so it won’t be glassy. If the wind cooperates, this could be the best of the run. But as it stands, it’s a promising but compromised option.

After that, the swell stays in the 5 ft to 7 ft range through to the end of the period, but it’s almost always cross-onshore and choppy. The energy remains moderate to strong (over 1000), but the quality is just not there. There’s no real standout other than that Monday morning.

So, if you’re an expert and you don’t mind a bit of chop, the 19th of August is your window. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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