Dongara-Port Denison Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Alright, we’ve got a solid 16-day window on the cards for Dongara-Port Denison, but it’s a bit of a slow burner. The first few days are a write-off, with Wednesday and Thursday looking pretty average. We’ve got a big gap of poor to marginal conditions before things start to shape up. The real standout is shaping up later in the run, so don’t write it off just yet.

The Early Days (26th - 29th August): Wednesday the 26th is a total no-go. We’re looking at a chunky 8ft to 12ft SW swell, but it’s being hammered by a fresh cross-onshore breeze, making it choppy and lumpy. The combined energy is massive (4302 on Wednesday morning, 7301 on the afternoon), but it’s messy. Thursday the 27th is still a bit of a mess with an 12ft swell and gusty cross-shore winds, the combined energy is still high (5428 morning, 4501 afternoon), but the quality is poor. Friday the 28th is cleaner but the swell drops to 8ft, and it’s only marginal. Saturday the 29th sees a tiny 3ft to 4ft groundswell with a very long 20s period, but it’s clean with cross-off winds. The energy is still moderate (1827 morning, 1590 afternoon), but it’s really small.

The Pick of the First Week (30th August): Sunday the 30th is the first real highlight. We’ve got a clean 8ft SW swell rolling in with a long 18s period. The wind is light and offshore from the ENE in the morning, making for glassy conditions. The combined energy is strong (3723), and it’s rated as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a solid session for the crew who know what they’re doing, but that 8ft is starting to get a bit big for beginners. The afternoon turns cross-onshore, so get out early.

The Middle Ground (31st Aug - 5th Sept): The start of the week is a bit of a mixed bag. Monday the 31st is a no-go with cross-onshore winds and a 7ft swell. Tuesday the 1st of September cleans up in the morning with a 6ft swell and a cross-off breeze, but it’s still only marginal. The swell picks up again to 8ft in the afternoon. The rest of the week through to the 5th of September is a grind of marginal conditions, but there are clean windows on the 2nd, 5th, and 6th mornings with cross-off or offshore winds. The swell is hanging around the 7ft to 7ft mark, and the combined energy is moderate to strong (around 1795). It’s not a classic, but it’s rideable.

The Real Standout (7th - 10th September): The second week is where it gets tasty. Monday the 7th of September is an absolute cracker. We’re looking at a 8ft SW groundswell with a long 17s period, and a clean offshore wind from the east. The combined energy is strong (3115), and it’s rated excellent for experienced surfers. The swell direction is a perfect match for the reef (optimum from the west). Tuesday the 8th of September is the big dog. The swell bumps up to a solid 10ft from the SW, with a 17-18s period. The morning is clean, but the afternoon is the real gem: an offshore breeze from the ESE with light airs, making it glassy. The combined energy is massive (4852 morning, 4589 afternoon), and it’s rated excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper heavy-duty session for the pros only. Wednesday the 9th is still very good with a 7ft swell and clean conditions. Thursday the 10th brings a 6ft swell with a very long 20s period, which will be a bit tricky on the beach but should line up nicely on the reef. The energy is strong (3131), and it’s a light wind day.

Crowds: Dongara-Port Denison is a reef setup that can see crowds *sometimes*, so on those standout days, especially the 30th, 7th, and 8th, expect a few others in the water.

Water Temp: The water temperature is about average for this time of year.

In summary, the first week is a bit of a write-off until the 30th. The real magic is in the second week, with the 7th and 8th of September being the absolute standouts. The 8th of September is the one to circle in your calendar, but it’s for experienced surfers only. It’s a promising run, and the forecasts can change, but it looks like we’ll be getting some proper swell.

Rusty.

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