Surf Forecasts:
Donuts surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 780 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Donuts this week:
The surf forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Donuts in the next 16 days are 1.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a pretty flat run for the most part. We’ve got a few days where the ocean’s barely got a pulse, and the wind’s often not helping. The first real chance to get wet is Tuesday the 25th of August, but even then it’s only just nudging into the “maybe” zone.
Let’s start with Donuts. This is a tricky reef break, and it’s inconsistent, so it doesn’t come alive often. The water temperature is sitting at 69°F, which is just about normal for this time of year, nothing wild.
The early part of the week is a write-off. Friday the 21st through to Monday the 24th, we’re looking at tiny swell around 1ft to 2ft, mostly from the SW, with light onshore and cross-onshore winds. The wind’s light, but the surf is just too small and weak, with combined energy values in the 200s. It’s poor.
Tuesday morning the 25th sees a bump in swell to 3ft, but the real shift happens on Tuesday afternoon. We get a 4ft SSW swell, with a 13-second period and light offshore wind from the W. The energy jumps to 731 – moderate. The conditions are marked as marginal, but with glassy offshore winds, that’s a clean window. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far.
Wednesday the 26th morning brings the biggest swell of the run: 5ft from the SSW, 13 seconds, but the wind turns cross-shore from the S at 9 mph. The energy is solid at 1045, which is strong. It’s a bit junky with the cross-chop, but big enough to get a few. The afternoon gets choppier as the wind picks up to 12 mph, so morning is the pick.
Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th hold onto 3ft to 4ft SSW swell, with periods between 11 and 12 seconds. The winds are cross-shore or cross-onshore, light to gentle. The energy drops back into the 500-600 range, and the conditions are marginal. It’s not terrible, but it’s not firing.
The weekend of the 29th and 30th of August, the swell drops back to 3ft to 4ft, with a slightly longer period of 15-17 seconds. That longer period gives the waves more shape, but the wind is mostly cross-onshore, so it’s a bit bumpy. The energy is in the 500-600 range again – moderate.
From the 31st of August right through to the 5th of September, it’s a long stretch of poor surf. The swell sits between 2ft and 4ft, but the wind is almost always cross-onshore, and the energy is all over the place from 234 to 743. The conditions are consistently described as poor or marginal. There’s a gap of about 5 to 6 days here where there’s no real recommendation.
The standout moment, if you can call it that, is Tuesday afternoon the 25th of August. The 4ft SSW swell, with a 13-second period, and light offshore wind from the W, gives you the cleanest waves of the period. The energy is moderate at 731. It’s not a big day, but it’s the only time the wind truly lines up. It’s the best bet for a few clean, lined-up waves.
For the rest of the run, it’s a case of picking the lesser evils. The biggest wave day, Wednesday the 26th morning, is worth a look if you’re desperate, but the cross-shore wind will make it a bit bumpy. The long-period swells (15-19 seconds) around the 30th of August will have more push, but the cross-onshore wind will spoil the surface.
That’s the story. Not a classic run, but there’s a couple of windows to get wet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun morning, min 22°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | WSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
142 | 116 | 84 | 109 | 217 | 220 | 171 | 154 | 233 | 209 | 137 | 222 | 276 | 539 | 780 | 724 | 757 | 522 | 469 | 400 | 257 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 8:22AM0.98m | 5:11PM1.40m | 8:19AM1.05m | 6:13PM1.49m | 8:30AM1.11m | 7:00PM1.59m | 8:44AM1.17m | 7:37PM1.68m | 9:02AM1.23m | 8:11PM1.75m | 9:22AM1.30m | 8:43PM1.78m | 9:44AM1.37m | 9:15PM1.77m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:00AM0.97m | 1:17AM0.21m | 12:03PM0.93m | 1:54AM0.11m | 12:58PM0.84m | 2:24AM0.03m | 1:36PM0.73m | 2:50AM-0.02m | 2:10PM0.63m | 3:15AM-0.06m | 2:44PM0.54m | 3:40AM-0.06m | 3:18PM0.45m | 4:04AM-0.04m | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
142 | 116 | 84 | 29 | 217 | 220 | 29 | 154 | 233 | 29 | 39 | 60 | 276 | 539 | 780 | 724 | 757 | 522 | 469 | 400 | 218 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | SW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 14 |
17 | 20 | 12 | 51 | 29 | 24 | 114 | 154 | 155 | 209 | 95 | 222 | 79 | 65 | 79 | 115 | 89 | 66 | 94 | 77 | 257 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | WSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | W 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | W 8 |
82 | 73 | 50 | 109 | 35 | 94 | 171 | 9 | 9 | 120 | 137 | 101 | 214 | 127 | 166 | 206 | 17 | 212 | 134 | 50 | 57 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 21 | 48 | 23 | 48 | 23 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Donuts Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Donuts provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Donuts can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Donuts 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 (Donuts) 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 Donuts 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.
Donuts is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Coronado. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Coronado. Coronado has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











