Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s check out what’s brewin’ for the Hikkaduwa area over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a rough stretch. We’re lookin’ at a solid gap with nothin’ worth paddlin’ out for until the 20th of July. That’s over a week of waitin’, so don’t get your hopes up for the early days.

The only break on the list is Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa). It’s an advanced reef break, fairly consistent, but the wind is a constant headache. Nearly every session has cross-onshore or onshore wind from the west, blowin’ at 12 to 19 mph. That’s gonna make the surface choppy and messy. The swell is mostly comin’ from the W or SSW, which is off from the optimum SW direction. Water temp is 83° with a small positive anomaly, so it’s a touch warmer than usual for this time of year.

The one real chance you’ve got is on Monday the 20th of July afternoon. There’s a S swell pushin’ 6 ft at 17 seconds – that’s a long period groundswell, with plenty of energy (combined energy of 1903). The wind is still cross-onshore from the west at 12 mph, but the wave comment says “marginal” instead of “poor,” so there’s a glimmer of hope. The swell direction is S, not the optimum SW, but on a reef, that long period can still produce some decent lines. The cross-onshore wind will chop it up, but if you’re an advanced surfer and you’re keen, this is the only window worth a look. It’s a standout only because everythin’ else is a total write-off.

After that, the 21st through the 27th still show waves, but the wind stays stubbornly onshore or cross-onshore, and the quality is poor. There are a couple of other marginal moments on the 22nd and 23rd afternoons, with swell around 4 ft to 5 ft, but the wind is still cross-onshore. Not worth gettin’ excited about.

Crowds are “sometimes” a thing at Inside Reef, but with this forecast, I wouldn’t worry about a packed lineup. The bigger problem is just findin’ a clean wave.

So, bottom line: it’s a tough stretch. If you’re desperate, the 20th afternoon is your best bet, but keep expectations low. For everyone else, just wait for the forecasts to change.

Rusty.

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