Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The next couple of weeks are looking like a real mixed bag for the Donkin Bay area. We’ve got a solid run of groundswell on the way, but the wind is going to be the main character here, and it won’t always be playing nice. Let’s break it down.

We start off on Saturday the 29th with some swell rolling in, but it’s a write-off. A cross-onshore breeze and a chunky 25 mph wind in the afternoon are going to turn it into a choppy mess. The water is currently sitting at 55°, which is a whopping 4° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s a very unusual chill, so if you’re heading out, you’ll want a thick steamer.

Sunday the 30th is where things get interesting. That morning is the real standout of the first week. The swell is up to 7ft from the WSW, with a clean 13-second period and a gentle cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is a hefty 1622 (moderate-strong). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. It’s a little too big for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of paddle power, the sets at Donkin Bay (reef and point) are gonna be pumping. The afternoon, however, gets messy again with a fresh cross-shore.

Monday the 31st will have a bit of leftover swell, but the wind is cross-shore and the conditions are marginal. Tuesday and Wednesday keep the size up – 8ft to 8ft – but the wind is either cross or cross-on, and the conditions are lumpy or have wind ripples. The energy is strong (up to 3742), but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle session.

We hit a real lull from Friday the 4th through to Sunday the 6th. The swell drops right off to 3ft or less, and we’ve got onshore winds and rain. There’s nothing to get excited about here. The energy is weak (under 300).

Now, look ahead to Monday the 7th of September. This is a promising one. We get a clean, glassy morning with a light offshore breeze from the ESE. The swell is only 3ft, but it’s a very long-period groundswell at 18 seconds. The combined energy is 922 (moderate). That long period means the waves will have shape and power, but it might break a bit straight on the beach. At a defined reef and point like Donkin Bay, it’ll be fantastic. This is a top pick for the second week.

Tuesday the 8th also looks clean in the morning with a 5ft swell and a cross-offshore breeze. But the real prize for the second week, and arguably the best session of the whole forecast, is Friday the 11th of September. The morning brings a solid 6ft from the WSW, a 16-second period, a light breeze, and clean conditions. The energy is a strong 2019. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers and will be a treat.

After that, we enter the final weekend with a bit of swell left, but the wind turns back onshore, so the quality drops off.

So, to sum it up: if you’re an experienced surfer, your windows are Sunday morning the 30th of August and Monday morning the 7th of September. The absolute best of the bunch is the morning of Friday the 11th of September. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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