Surf Forecasts:
Donkin Bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 13s period, SW swell with 1,750 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Donkin Bay in the next 16 days are 2.3m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donkin Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what Donkin Bay is serving up for the next couple weeks. It's a real rollercoaster, with a few days that are pure magic and plenty of time to get the wax out of your hair.
We kick off on Tuesday, September 8th with a clean 4-foot swell from the WSW, 12-second intervals, and a light offshore breeze from the ENE. The energy is solid at 413. That morning session is looking real nice for a mid-week paddle. Water temp is nothing special, just your average for this time of year.
But Tuesday afternoon the wind screws it all up. Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are total washouts with onshore and strong side-shore winds. That Thursday afternoon gets ugly with a 6-foot swell getting torn up by a 20 mph wind.
Now, Friday the 11th of September morning is the real deal. We're looking at a solid 6-foot swell from the SW, 12-second period, and the energy is pumping at 1010. The wind is a light offshore from the ESE, so it's going to be glassy. This is a prime window for experienced surfers only – that size will smoke a beginner. This is your first standout of the forecast.
The weekend is a bust with onshore winds, so Saturday and Sunday are for fixing dings. Monday and Tuesday (14th and 15th) are also poor.
Alright, strap in for Wednesday the 16th of September. The models are showing a massive 12 to 13-foot swell from the WSW with a long, powerful 18-second period. The energy is off the charts at 8293. The wind is light, but onshore. This is simply too big for Donkin Bay – it'll be a washing machine. A real heavy-hitter for the brave and foolhardy.
Thursday the 17th is still oversized at 10-foot, but the afternoon cross-offshore wind might make it a bit less of a disaster. Still, expert only. The swell backs off on the 18th and 19th, but the wind is messy.
Then we get a beauty. On Sunday the 20th of September morning, we have a clean 5-foot swell from the WSW with a 14-second period, and energy at 982. The wind is a light offshore from the ESE. This is a beautiful, clean, user-friendly setup that will be a blast for intermediate surfers. This is your best bet in the second week.
The 21st of September is too big again at 12-foot, and the last few days (22nd and 23rd) see the swell dropping but with onshore winds, so not much to shout about.
Bottom line: circle Friday the 11th morning for the first big, clean push, and Sunday the 20th morning for a more relaxed, clean session with real quality.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Fri afternoon, light winds from the NW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SSW 10 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 596 | 384 | 239 | 151 | 105 | 154 | 320 | 558 | 1283 | 1435 | 1010 | 579 | 500 | 581 | 1058 | 822 | 1236 | 961 | 1053 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:03AM1.47m | 1:31PM1.59m | 1:51AM1.59m | 2:12PM1.73m | 2:32AM1.68m | 2:49PM1.83m | 3:09AM1.73m | 3:24PM1.87m | 3:44AM1.73m | 3:57PM1.86m | 4:17AM1.69m | 4:28PM1.79m | 4:48AM1.61m | ||||||
Low Tide | 7:22AM0.26m | 7:50PM0.21m | 8:04AM0.14m | 8:30PM0.09m | 8:41AM0.07m | 9:07PM0.01m | 9:15AM0.04m | 9:41PM-0.01m | 9:48AM0.05m | 10:13PM0.01m | 10:19AM0.10m | 10:44PM0.09m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 6:32 | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 27 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 18 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 25 | 18 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SSW 10 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 596 | 384 | 239 | 151 | 76 | 154 | 320 | 500 | 1283 | 1435 | 1010 | 579 | 500 | 581 | 1058 | 796 | 1236 | 961 | 1053 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 19 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SSW 4 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | SW 5 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | WSW 12 | SSW 10 | — | WSW 16 | — | — | NW 4 |
| kJ | 7 | 29 | 25 | 7 | 105 | 62 | 19 | 558 | — | — | — | — | 341 | 175 | — | 822 | — | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 15 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 86 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | — | SSW 9 | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NW 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | — | — | 10 | — | 8 | 61 | — | — | 411 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 25 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 215 | 101 | 101 | 258 | 0 | 103 | 286 | 0 | 0 | 491 | 103 | 103 | 56 | 115 | 254 | 248 | 40 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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