Surf Forecasts:
Donuts surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 636 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Donuts this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Donuts in the next 16 days are 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks at Donuts are looking pretty flat and choppy. The swell sticks around waist-to-chest high for most of the run, but the wind never plays ball, and it's mostly cross-onshore junk. Water temp is a staggering 75°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year (about 6° above average), so that’s a weird one. But for surfing? It’s slim pickings.
We kick off Saturday the 29th of August. There’s a 4ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period, so there's some energy in the water (combined energy 715), but the wind is cross-onshore from the WNW at 9 mph. It’s choppy and messy. Poor surf conditions. That theme sticks through the whole first week. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st stay onshore, with the swell dropping to 3ft by Monday morning and the period falling to 12 seconds. The energy fades quick (456 on Monday morning). The whole first week is a write-off – nothing but cross-onshore slop and scores of zero.
We finally see a glimmer of hope on Monday the 7th of September. The swell picks up just a touch – 3ft from the S at 12 seconds – and the wind lightens. Monday morning is light cross-onshore, barely a ripple, with a combined energy of 541. It’s only a “marginal” call, so tides could mess with it, but that's the first window all week where you might find a grovelly wave. That afternoon goes glassy with unknown wind, which might clean it up even more.
Then Tuesday the 8th of September is our only real standout. The swell jumps to 6ft from the SSW, period 13 seconds, with a big jump in energy to 1226. Still a cross-onshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph, but for a sheltered reef like Donuts, that’s manageable. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the whole outlook. Be aware – at 6ft, it’s getting solid for intermediates, but not too big for a confident surfer. The period is moderate, so it won't be too straight. It’s the best on offer, no doubt.
After that, it falls apart again. Wednesday the 9th drops to 5ft but with a short 9-second period and 12 mph cross-onshore wind – choppy again. By Thursday the 10th, we’re back to 3ft SW groundswell with a long period, but winds swing cross-shore. It’s small and weak through the second week, with the energy dropping into the 200s by Saturday the 12th.
The very last entry on Sunday the 13th of September shows a 4ft S swell at 13 seconds (715 energy), with light offshore wind from the W in the morning. That looks like the cleanest, most lined-up session of the whole second week, but it’s a long-range call so treat it as promising, not locked in.
Overall, if you’re desperate, Tuesday the 8th of September is your best shot for some size and push, and maybe Monday the 7th or Sunday the 13th for cleaner but smaller waves. The rest is a gap of poor conditions you can sleep through.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
653 | 612 | 479 | 407 | 341 | 190 | 180 | 160 | 158 | 128 | 234 | 167 | 330 | 251 | 239 | 403 | 510 | 465 | 589 | 553 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:24PM1.61m | 10:58AM1.58m | 11:03PM1.45m | 11:26AM1.62m | 11:48PM1.26m | 11:59AM1.63m | 00:47AM1.06m | 12:40PM1.62m | 2:26AM0.88m | 1:40PM1.57m | 5:41AM0.88m | 3:12PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:32PM0.33m | 4:52AM0.13m | 5:13PM0.29m | 5:15AM0.26m | 6:01PM0.28m | 5:38AM0.41m | 7:00PM0.30m | 6:01AM0.58m | 8:20PM0.32m | 6:23AM0.73m | 10:06PM0.27m | 6:44AM0.88m | 11:43PM0.14m | |||||||
— | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | WNW 6 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
653 | 612 | 145 | 153 | 134 | 77 | 180 | 160 | 158 | 98 | 234 | 167 | 330 | 247 | 239 | 287 | 64 | 465 | 589 | 553 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 12 | W 6 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | SW 17 | SW 18 | WNW 6 | SW 11 | W 6 |
43 | 74 | 479 | 407 | 341 | 190 | 38 | 142 | 64 | 128 | 108 | 116 | 165 | 251 | 40 | 403 | 510 | 40 | 150 | 74 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 8 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 9 | SW 16 | W 10 | S 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SW 11 | W 16 | SW 10 |
19 | 4 | 10 | 44 | 74 | 189 | 176 | 23 | 50 | 50 | 2 | 132 | 2 | 17 | 221 | 33 | 224 | 94 | 5 | 69 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 24 | 36 | 27 | 23 | 43 | — | 40 | — | — | 40 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 218 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.











