Donuts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s cooking for Donuts over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough one. The water temp is sitting at 74°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a very unusual anomaly, so the water is feeling more like a warm bath than a typical surf session.

Now, for the surf itself… well, it’s a long, bleak stretch. We’ve got a solid 16-day window here, but honestly, there’s not a single day that I’d give the thumbs up for a proper paddle. From now through the entire period, every single session is flagged as "poor surf conditions." The scores are all zero, which is about as rough as it gets.

The first week is a total write-off. From Friday 28 August right through to Thursday 3 September, we’re looking at small, weak swell – mostly around 2ft to 4ft – with a long period of 14 to 16 seconds from the southwest. That’s a classic groundswell, but it’s just not enough push. The combined energy is moderate, hitting between 220 and 890 (moderate wave energy), but the wind is the real killer. It’s a constant cross-on breeze from the west and northwest, which is chopping everything up. It’s just messy out there.

The only glimmer arrives on Friday 4 September morning. The swell is still small at 3ft, but the period jumps to a very long 17 seconds from the southwest, and the combined energy is strong at 820 (strong wave energy). The wind is light from the west, which is onshore but light. It’s flagged as "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions," so it’s a one-out-of-ten at best. Donuts is an inconsistent, sheltered reef, and it needs a good push from the west (optimum swell direction) to work. The swell is coming from the southwest, which is close but not quite right. For a dedicated surfer, it might be worth a look, but don’t expect much.

The entire second week – from Saturday 5 September onward – is more of the same. Slightly bigger swell on the 11th and 12th, hitting 4ft to 5ft from the south, but the wind shifts to a strong cross-shore from the south at 12 to 19 mph. That’s fresh breeze territory, and it’ll be lumpy cross-chop. The period drops to 12 to 14 seconds, so the energy is there (combined energy between 600 and 960), but the quality is just not there. This setup, with significant swell, poor surf quality, strong wind, and a reef break, could actually be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, what’s the bottom line? Honestly, there’s no standout here. The best of a bad bunch is the Friday 4 September morning session, but even that’s a long shot. Donuts is inconsistent and rarely breaks clean, and this forecast proves it. When it’s this poor for this long, it’s not unusual for the area. Hang in there, and check back in a few days – forecasts can change, but right now, we’re in a dry spell.

Rusty.

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