Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Donkin Bay. This is a reef and point setup, so it’s got some shape to it naturally. The combined swell energy for the first session is 440 (moderate), and the water is sitting at 55.2°F, which is a full 4°F colder than normal for this time of year. That’s a notable chill, so you’ll want a thick suit.

The first real opportunity comes Friday morning, the 28th of August. We’ve got a clean, glassy morning with some clouds, a 2.3ft swell from the WSW, and a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s going to wrap nicely into this point. The wind is glassy from the SSW at only 3 mph. This is a true standout for the start of the run. The only catch is the crowd factor – it’s a spot that does get surfers on it sometimes, so expect some company.

Friday afternoon gets messy. The wind picks up to 16 mph from the south, going cross-off, but the swell bumps up a touch to 3.0ft. The period drops to 14 seconds, still decent, but the energy is a bit lower at 425. The report calls it marginal, and I’d agree – the morning was the window.

Saturday the 29th looks like a write-off for a clean surf. The morning has a 3.9ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is a stiff 19 mph from the SSE. That’s cross-off, so it’s clean looking, but the combined energy jumps to 752 (moderate), and the rating is poor. By the afternoon, it’s a full-on 28 mph cross-shore wind with 4.6ft swell and a messy cross-chop. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

Sunday the 30th brings a bigger swell – 7.2ft in the morning, building to 8.2ft in the afternoon from the SW. The energy is strong: 1622 in the morning and 1854 in the afternoon. The wind is cross-off in the morning at 12 mph, but by the afternoon it’s a strong cross-shore at 19 mph. The morning is clean, but the swell is getting up there – it’s intermediate territory, a bit much for beginners. The afternoon is a lumpy mess.

Monday the 31st is a similar story. Morning has a 5.9ft swell, clean cross-off wind at 16 mph, and energy of 872 (moderate). It’s rideable but marginal. The afternoon is a no-go with 22 mph winds.

Tuesday the 1st of September starts clean with a 5.9ft swell, but the wind is 12 mph cross-off. The afternoon is blown out with 25 mph winds and a 7.2ft swell. The energy is strong at 1594, but the chop is nasty.

Now, Wednesday the 2nd of September is a significant one. The morning is glassy, with a 9.8ft swell from the SW, a period of 16 seconds, and a combined energy of 4077. That’s very strong energy. The wind is a light 3 mph from the SSE. The catch? The report says the swell is too big for this break. This is a reef and point, so with that size and period, it’s going to be a washing machine, only for experts. The afternoon is similar, with a 9.8ft swell and 15-second period, but a cross-shore wind of 12 mph. Not a beginner’s day.

Thursday the 3rd sees a 8.2ft to 7.9ft swell, but the wind is onshore from the WNW at 6-9 mph. That’s blown out. The energy is strong at 2362 and 1687, but the quality is poor.

Friday the 4th has a 7.2ft swell in the morning, with a strong 25 mph cross-off wind from the ENE. That’s clean but windy. The energy is 1194. The afternoon is a drop-off to 3.9ft and cross-onshore chop.

From the 5th of September onwards, the surf drops away. The 5th has tiny 1.3ft to 2.0ft swell, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. The 6th has a 3.3ft swell with a very long 18-second period, but onshore wind. The 7th of September morning is a standout for the second week. Clean, offshore wind from the SE at 3 mph, a 3.0ft swell from the WSW, period of 13 seconds, and energy of 270. It’s small but clean, and the wind is perfect. This is the best of the second week.

The 8th and 9th are poor, with small onshore or cross-shore conditions. The 10th of September morning has a clean 2.3ft swell with a cross-off

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