Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got one spot on the radar for the next 16 days, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

For the first week, from September 7th right through the 8th, 9th, and into the 10th, we’re looking at a lot of onshore wind and messy conditions. The swell is there, but it’s just not clean. The wind is mostly from the WSW, blowing straight on, and it’s making a mess of things. The combined swell energy is building from a moderate 353 (weak) up to a strong 1316 (moderate) by Thursday afternoon, but the “poor surf conditions” tag is a real downer. Thursday afternoon the 10th does get a marginal nod, with a 5 ft SW swell at a very long 17 seconds, but that onshore wind is just going to ruin the shape.

Then we hit a real rough patch. From Friday the 11th through to Sunday the 14th, the swell is pumping, but the wind is relentless. September 12th sees a 7 ft SSW swell with a crazy 2634 (strong) energy reading, but it’s all onshore wind. September 14th Monday morning has a big 8 ft WSW swell, but it’s a short period 8-second windswell, and the wind is a fresh 16 mph. This is a setup that looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The 14th afternoon does get a 2 out of 10, with a 5 ft SSW at 16 seconds, but it’s still onshore.

The second week, from September 15th to the 22nd, is more of the same. The wind stays strong, mostly from the W at 19 mph, with a few cross-on days. September 21st sees a massive 3 ft swell at a very long 22 seconds, with a combined energy of 2161 (strong), but again, it’s all onshore. The 22nd has a 6 ft SSW swell at 20 seconds, with a whopping 3497 (strong) energy, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph onshore.

The Standout? Honestly, there isn’t a true standout. The only break in the mix is Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa). It’s a fairly consistent advanced reef break that needs optimum swell from the SW, and it’s getting plenty of that. But the wind is the enemy here. The whole 16 days is a washout for paddle surfing. The waves will be there, but they’ll be blown out, choppy, and ugly. The water temp is about average for the time of year, which is a small mercy.

For a spot that’s usually fairly consistent, this is a tough run. It won’t stay poor forever, but this window is a no-go for a clean session.

Rusty.

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