Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Donkin Bay. This is a reef and point setup, exposed to the SW swell, and it’s fairly consistent. The water is a very chilly 55°F at the start, which is a whopping 5°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s not just a bit nippy, that’s “where’s my 5/4 wetsuit” territory.

The first real standout kicks off on Sunday morning, August 23rd. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell rolling in from the WSW, with a 13-second period (decent groundswell energy). The combined energy is a powerful 1226.

What makes this morning special is the wind: a light 3 mph SSE breeze blowing cross-offshore. That’s going to leave the surface glassy and clean. The waves will have some real push to them, but with the period just over 12 seconds, it’s a groundswell that will wrap nicely around the point – expect some long, walling rides. Keep in mind, at 6ft, this is getting into the size that might be a handful for beginners. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it’s not a zoo. This is the pick of the whole outlook.

Through the rest of the week, the swell hangs around in the 5ft to 6ft range, but the wind gets a bit fickle. Monday morning (August 24th) looks clean with a 5ft swell and a light S cross-off, but the energy drops to 698. Tuesday morning (August 25th) sees a bigger 6ft swell from the SW with a very long 14-second period, giving a massive 1520 energy reading. However, the wind is cross, not clean, so it’ll have a bit of texture on the face.

From Wednesday onward, the swell drops and the wind turns questionable. By Saturday, August 29th, a strong 28 mph NW wind is making it a mess – that’s kite-surfing weather, not paddling. We get a bit of a reprieve on Monday, September 1st. The morning brings a clean 4ft SW swell with light S cross-off winds and 715 energy. It’s small but fun. Then the afternoon sees a jump to 7ft, still clean, but that’s expert territory for the size.

The real standout in the second week is Tuesday afternoon, September 2nd. A 8ft swell from the WSW with a 13-second period and a massive 1909 combined energy reading. That’s a lot of power. But the wind is onshore from the WNW, so the surface is going to be a battle. This is a promising one for the long-range, but it’s a gamble right now. If the wind cleans up, look out. For the rest of the second week, the wind stays mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping the quality marginal and the wave faces bumpy. Not a great run for clean waves.

So, your best bet? Get out on Sunday morning, August 23rd at Donkin Bay. The clean, glassy conditions and solid groundswell will be a treat.

Rusty.

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