Donuts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, look. I’m just going to level with you. The next week and a half looks like a proper bust. We’ve got a lot of slop and chop, but nothing that’s going to get you out of bed. It’s all onshore junk, cross-shore bumps, and just a general mess. You’d be fighting the wind and whitewater the whole time.

To be honest, the first real chance of a decent wave is a long way out. I’m talking about Tuesday, the 25th of August. That’s a huge gap with just about nothing on offer. You’re going to be staring at a lot of flat, bumpy water until then.

Here’s the lowdown. For the rest of this week and all of next, we’ve got small, weak swell from the southwest. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, making things bumpy and full of wash. The swell energy is moderate at best, even getting to 601 on the 15th, but it’s just not doing anything. It’s a total waste.

Then comes the dead zone. Around the 21st and 22nd, the wave energy just bottoms out. We’re talking about numbers as low as 189, which is just about as flat as it gets. Maybe you'll see some ripples, but there's nothing to ride.

But hold on. There is a glimmer of hope. Tuesday the 25th. Finally, the forecast shows something that’s not a complete zero. The swell isn’t huge, just a touch over a meter, but it’s a real south swell with a long period. We’re talking 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, the kind that wraps around the points and finds the reefs. It’s not going to be big, but the quality should be a complete upgrade.

The wind is also looking good, light and offshore from the west-northwest. That’s exactly what you want to keep the faces clean. But this is a long way off, so understand that this is a "promising" call, not a guaranteed one. The total energy here jumps to 816, which is the strongest reading we see in the whole window. It’s the clear standout.

The spot is Donuts. It’s a reef break, and it’s inconsistent on its best days. Don’t expect a crowd, or even a consistent wave, but when a long-period south swell lines up with light offshore wind, a sheltered reef like this can be something special. The swell direction is right in its sweet spot, coming from the southwest. This one is for the experienced crew, though. Even at a meter, a long-period swell on a reef can pitch and throw some heavy sections.

And the water is warm. When you finally do get out on the 25th, it’s 24° – that’s over 3° warmer than average for this time of year. That’s a real anomaly, and you’d definitely feel it. It’s like surfing in a heated pool.

So, that’s the full story. A long stretch of nothing, then one potentially great day on the 25th. Don’t get too excited just yet, but definitely keep that date in the back of your mind.

Rusty.

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