
Surf Forecasts:
Donuts surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 371 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s period with WSW 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Donuts in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) 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+) | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Alright mate, I won’t sugarcoat it – Donuts is looking dead flat for the full 16 days. This reef break is inconsistent anyway, and right now it’s a total drought. No standout sessions, no decent waves to point you towards. The water’s a toasty 73° – that’s 6° above average for this time of year, so it feels like a warm bath, but that’s the only thing that’s working.
We start Wednesday 5 August with some clouds and a light offshore wind from the west at 6 mph, but the swell is just 2ft from the WSW with a 14-second period. The combined energy is weak at 159, and the surf is poor. Thursday 6 August picks up to a combined energy of 239, but still only 2-2ft from the SW, and it’s still poor. Friday 7 August brings a 19-second period – that’s very long period groundswell – and combined energy of 386, but the waves are only 2ft from the SSW with a light offshore. Long period on a reef can be okay, but there’s no size to work with.
Saturday 8 August gets a cross-onshore wind from the NW at 9-12 mph, combined energy 374, but it’s still 2ft and choppy with poor conditions. This just repeats: clear skies, light to moderate wind, and wave heights never hitting 3ft. Sunday 9 August has 2ft from the SW, 15-second period, combined energy 353, onshore breeze – still poor.
Through Wednesday 12 August, it’s the same – 2-2ft, combined energy between 278 and 405, every session poor. Thursday 13 August: 2ft, SW, 16 seconds, offshore – poor.
Friday 14 August sees a tiny bump: 3ft from the SW, 18 seconds, combined energy 654. That’s moderate energy, but wind is cross-onshore from the WNW at 9 mph, creating chop. Still poor. Saturday 15 August is the best of a bad bunch: 4ft from the SW at 16 seconds, combined energy 643 – the biggest swell of the forecast – but it’s poor surf conditions with a cross-onshore breeze. It’s messy and not worth the paddle.
From Sunday 16 August to Thursday 20 August, it’s back to 2-3ft, combined energy 242-483, with onshore or cross-onshore winds. Every single session is rated poor.
Forget it for the whole 16 days. This is one of those blank stretches that happens at an inconsistent spot like Donuts. The swell direction (WSW to SSW) is from the west, which is the optimum for the break, but the size just never arrives. That little 4ft bump on Saturday 15 August might give you a waist-high wave, but it’ll be choppy and sloppy. Honestly, with these light winds and small, persistent swell, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – but even then, it’s weak.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 19°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
134 | 96 | 155 | 108 | 168 | 113 | 248 | 173 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | 220 | 217 | 211 | 183 | 156 | 173 | 118 | 197 | 249 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:28PM1.52m | 4:11AM0.83m | 3:39PM1.57m | 6:31AM0.88m | 4:55PM1.67m | 7:39AM1.00m | 6:04PM1.80m | 8:19AM1.11m | 7:03PM1.93m | 8:53AM1.21m | 7:55PM2.03m | 9:27AM1.31m | 8:43PM2.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:16PM0.40m | 8:07AM0.70m | 11:53PM0.22m | 9:45AM0.82m | 1:00AM0.02m | 11:34AM0.83m | 1:51AM-0.16m | 12:50PM0.74m | 2:36AM-0.29m | 1:48PM0.62m | 3:16AM-0.35m | 2:39PM0.50m | 3:53AM-0.35m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
134 | 96 | 155 | 108 | 168 | 106 | 136 | 103 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | 220 | 217 | 211 | 183 | 156 | 173 | 87 | 197 | 249 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SW 11 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SSW 12 |
10 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 64 | 113 | 248 | 173 | 92 | 69 | 90 | 69 | 42 | 61 | 30 | 63 | 134 | 133 | 54 | 120 | 48 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 11 | W 5 | W 4 | S 9 | S 9 | W 4 | SW 23 | WNW 4 | W 4 | SW 21 | W 4 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 13 |
15 | 6 | 6 | 60 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 72 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 118 | 57 | 45 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 9 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 166 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 133 | 0 | 23 | 166 | 0 |
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.











