Donkin Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.81° S 18.23° E

Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 14 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Donkin Bay sea temperature is
11.5° C
3.4° 

Donkin Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Donkin Bay surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with 2,453 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period with WSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Donkin Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Donkin Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Donkin Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Sat 15th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Sat 15th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 14s
Most Powerful 5AM (Mon 17th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donkin Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right, let’s have a look at the swell window for the Donkin Bay area. It’s been a bit of a slow burner to start, but there’s some fun stuff lined up if you’re patient.

The water’s sitting at 53°F, which is a solid 6°F colder than it should be for this time of year. That’s a properly icy batch of water, so the thickest hood and boots you own are non-negotiable.

First up, Friday the 14th is a write-off. We’ve got a bit of swell in the water, but the northwest wind is making a mess of it – cross-onshore and choppy. Not worth the shiver.

Saturday the 15th morning is where it starts to get interesting. The wind swings around to a light offshore from the southeast, and the swell is a clean 6ft from the WSW with a 14-second period. You’ll find some proper lines at Donkin Bay (a reef and point set-up) with that long-period energy wrapping in nicely. The combined energy is moderate at 1051, and the light wind will have it looking glassy. It’s a decent option for the experienced crew, but the afternoon sees the wind shift and chop it up, so make the most of the early session.

Sunday the 16th morning has a touch more size, 6ft, but the northerly breeze puts a bit of chop on it. It’s not terrible, but the earlier clean lines are gone.

Monday the 17th morning is the standout of this first stretch. The swell bumps up to 8ft from the WSW, still with a 13-second period, and we’ve got a light cross-offshore wind from the south. The energy jumps into the strong range at 2279, and it’s going to be clean and powerful. This is proper reef-swell territory, but at 8ft it’s pushing well past the beginner zone – this is for the experienced surfers only. The afternoon wind picks up and makes it lumpy, so it’s a morning mission.

Tuesday the 18th morning offers another clean session, with 7ft and light cross-offshore winds. The energy is still strong at 1266, but it’s a step down from Monday. Still, good clean conditions mean a solid session for those who know what they’re doing.

After that, things drop off and turn a bit average. The middle of the week sees the swell ease off and the winds get messy, with a lot of cross-shore chop through the afternoons. There’s a low point here – a stretch of a few days, from the 19th through the 21st, where it’s just not worth paddling out, with the swell dropping to around 4ft and onshore winds making a mess of it.

But hold on, because the next proper window opens up on Saturday the 22nd. It’s a big one. We’ve got a serious pulse of swell coming in – 8ft in the morning, jumping up to a solid 10ft by the afternoon. The period stretches out to 16 seconds, and the energy is massive at 4724. This is a long-period, powerful groundswell. The caveat is that the afternoon wind is a strong 35 km/h cross-shore, which is going to make it lumpy and hard work. It’s marked as “too big for this break,” so unless you’re a proper charger, it’s a pass.

Sunday the 23rd morning cleans up, with a light cross-offshore and the swell still holding at 10ft from the SW with a 14-second period. Energy remains very strong at 3468. This is the same story – this is heavy, expert-only surf. Over 8ft is expert territory, and this is at the top end. The afternoon builds a fresh cross-shore wind and gets messy.

The following week sees the size drop back to a more manageable 7ft to 8ft range, but the winds are a mixed bag. Monday the 24th morning looks clean with light winds and a solid 7ft. Wednesday the 26th morning is also worth a look, with the ENE light breeze giving clean conditions and the swell at 7ft from the WSW.

So, the two true standouts in this whole window are the Monday morning sessions – the 17th and the 24th. Both have that clean, cross-offshore wind and solid, powerful WSW swell hitting the reef properly. The 22nd and 23rd have the biggest energy, but the combination of size and wind makes it a much more marginal and dangerous call. Everything else is either too small, too messy, or just average. Get your timing right and there are some memorable waves to be had.

Keep it salty.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
2
3
4
2
4
3
2
3
4
1
4
3
1
3
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
13
1.9
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
13
2.3
WSW
13
2.2
WSW
13
2
WSW
13
2
WSW
12
1.9
WSW
12
2.1
SW
12
1.9
SW
12
1.8
SW
11
1.6
SW
11
1.4
SW
12
1.3
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
934
1034
1019
1364
1144
1464
2378
2279
1872
1668
1301
1216
1091
1220
1025
798
611
524
433
Wind (km/h)
5
SE
5
ESE
20
SSW
5
W
5
WNW
20
SSW
5
SSE
10
SSW
20
SSW
20
S
10
S
25
SSW
15
S
20
S
30
SSW
10
S
15
SSW
15
SSW
10
SW
Wind State
off
off
cross
on
glassy
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
4:47AM1.68m
5:04PM1.81m
5:23AM1.59m
5:39PM1.71m
5:59AM1.48m
6:13PM1.57m
6:35AM1.35m
6:50PM1.42m
7:17AM1.22m
7:33PM1.27m
8:14AM1.10m
8:39PM1.14m
Low Tide
10:44PM0.04m
10:50AM0.08m
11:20PM0.10m
11:24AM0.18m
11:55PM0.21m
11:57AM0.30m
00:30AM0.33m
12:30PM0.44m
1:07AM0.47m
1:08PM0.57m
1:54AM0.60m
2:00PM0.70m
3:19AM0.69m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:18
7:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:19
6:19
6:20
6:21
6:21
6:22
6:22
 mm
Temp °C
12
17
21
16
15
16
15
16
16
16
16
18
18
18
21
20
18
19
16
Feels °C
12
15
19
15
14
13
14
14
13
14
14
13
14
14
15
16
15
16
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Donkin Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Donkin Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Donkin Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Donkin Bay 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 (Donkin Bay) 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 Donkin Bay 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.

Donkin Bay is 136 km (84 miles) from Saldanha. If you plan a holiday in West Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Saldanha. Saldanha has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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