
Surf Forecasts:
Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, S swell with 909 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 11AM. 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 | 11AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day window for Inside Reef (Hikkaduwa) is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of consistently poor conditions, so don’t get your hopes up for any standout sessions. The water is sitting at 83°, about 1° warmer than the long-term average, so it’s on the warmer side for the time of year.
The whole period kicks off with some very average surf. On Monday the 13th, you’ve got a weak 6ft swell from the west, but with a short period of 7 seconds and a moderate cross-onshore breeze at 25 km/h, it’s choppy and messy. The combined energy is only moderate (892), so there’s not much power behind it. That afternoon, the swell drops to 4ft from the south, period jumps to 12 seconds, but the cross-onshore wind at 20 km/h still kills the quality. It’s a marginal call at best.
Tuesday the 14th is more of the same – 4ft south swell, 11-second period, 25 km/h cross-onshore winds in the morning, and even though the wind goes onshore in the afternoon with a clean 3ft swell from the SSW at a very long 16 seconds, the conditions are still poor. The entire first week, from the 13th through to the 19th of July, is plagued by moderate to fresh breezes from the west, with cross-onshore or onshore winds, and every session is rated as poor or marginal. Swells hover around 3ft to 4ft, with periods of 13 to 16 seconds, but the energy is weak to moderate. The consistency is fairly consistent for the break, but with these winds and the fact it’s a reef setup, it’s just not coming together.
We hit the second week, and on the 20th of July, the swell picks up – 4ft from the south with a very long 18-second period, and the combined energy jumps to strong (1405). But again, cross-onshore winds at 25 km/h spoil it. The 21st and 22nd keep the same pattern: 5ft south swells at 14 to 15 seconds, still cross-onshore or onshore winds, so the surf is poor.
By the 23rd, there’s a shift – a 6ft swell from the WNW with a period of 10 to 11 seconds, and the energy stays strong (1249 to 1481). But the wind is still onshore or cross-onshore from the west at 20 to 25 km/h, and the reef never gets clean. The 24th and 25th offer similar 6ft west-northwest swells, but the wind is relentless.
The last few days, from the 26th to the 28th, drop back to smaller 3ft to 3ft swells from the SSW with long periods of 14 to 18 seconds, but the wind is still onshore or cross-onshore, and the conditions never improve. There’s one session on the 28th where the energy gets moderate (1031 to 1096), but with 30 km/h winds in the morning, it’s a no-go.
In short, there’s no true standout in this 16-day window. It’s a long run of poor to marginal surf, with the wind always ruining the lineup. If you’re desperate, the 20th might have the most size and period, but it’ll still be a battle. Save your energy – forecasts can change, but right now it’s looking like a blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 7 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 20 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
303 | 404 | 464 | 348 | 427 | 402 | 398 | 468 | 558 | 482 | 482 | 482 | 437 | 357 | 347 | 323 | 225 | 222 | 246 | 242 | 485 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:38PM0.62m | 1:57AM0.43m | 2:18PM0.65m | 2:40AM0.49m | 2:53PM0.66m | 3:19AM0.54m | 3:26PM0.67m | 3:58AM0.57m | 3:58PM0.65m | 4:36AM0.59m | 4:28PM0.63m | 5:13AM0.59m | 4:57PM0.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:20PM0.11m | 7:43AM0.09m | 8:52PM0.08m | 8:28AM0.08m | 9:22PM0.05m | 9:09AM0.09m | 9:52PM0.04m | 9:46AM0.11m | 10:21PM0.03m | 10:22AM0.15m | 10:49PM0.05m | 10:57AM0.19m | 11:17PM0.07m | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 |
155 | 404 | 464 | 348 | 287 | 240 | 235 | 468 | 558 | 482 | 482 | 482 | 437 | 357 | 347 | 323 | 86 | 192 | 140 | 102 | 356 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | W 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 20 |
181 | 71 | 377 | 348 | 427 | 402 | 398 | 191 | 223 | 208 | 167 | 131 | 100 | 98 | 65 | 51 | 225 | 222 | 246 | 242 | 485 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | — | — | SSE 13 | ESE 8 | — | E 10 | SE 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | SSW 21 | S 8 |
253 | 332 | — | — | 33 | 6 | — | 2 | 3 | 23 | 34 | 20 | 29 | 31 | 36 | 40 | 68 | 59 | 88 | 153 | 61 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 |
303 | 211 | 198 | 216 | 210 | 205 | 192 | 193 | 148 | 94 | 115 | 89 | 96 | 110 | 176 | 186 | 132 | 102 | 120 | 169 | 204 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 210 | 210 | 211 | 646 | 859 | 211 | 210 | 859 | 172 | 210 | 755 | 211 | 210 | 210 | 211 | 210 | 210 | 211 | 210 | 210 | 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.










