
Surf Forecasts:
Donuts surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 371 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SW 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 04) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s is also forecast. 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 8PM. 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+) | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty.
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. The next couple of weeks at Donuts (reef) are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swell and the wind is mostly on it or cross-onshore, which just messes up anything that tries to form. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing special there.
The only spot on the map is Donuts, and it’s an inconsistent reef break that’s sheltered from the west, but the swell we’re getting is mostly from the SW. That’s not a great match. The energy is there, but it’s not translating into anything rideable.
From Monday the 3rd of August all the way through to Monday the 17th, it’s just a flat, choppy mess. Every single session is scored as poor surf conditions. The swell is tiny, between 1ft and 3ft, with a period that’s all over the place. Sometimes it’s a long period (13-19 seconds), which would usually be good for a reef, but the wind and the size just kill it. The combined swell energy stays mostly in the moderate range (between 131 and 454), but it’s all wasted.
For the first week, the wind is from the west or southwest, blowing straight on or cross-onshore at 9 to 12 mph. That’s just constant chop. By the second week, we get a bit of a shift to the WNW, which is offshore for Donuts, but the swell is still pitiful. The best you’ll see is a 3ft, 16-second swell on the 15th of August, with the wind coming from the WNW at 9 mph, but it’s still onshore. Even then, the wave comment is “poor surf conditions.”
Honestly, if you’re looking at this for proper surfing, you’re out of luck. The size is never big enough to get interesting, and the wind is never clean enough to make the small stuff fun. This setup over a reef, with this much wind, might actually be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, but even then, it’s weak.
There are no standouts. No hidden gems. Just a long, blank run of days. For this area, it’s not unusual to have a spell like this. It’s a quiet spot. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d save the wax.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
130 | 100 | 102 | 72 | 113 | 107 | 167 | 134 | 96 | 155 | 108 | 168 | 112 | 248 | 173 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:52PM1.37m | 12:54PM1.44m | 00:42AM1.16m | 1:35PM1.48m | 2:00AM0.95m | 2:28PM1.52m | 4:11AM0.83m | 3:39PM1.57m | 6:31AM0.88m | 4:55PM1.67m | 7:39AM1.00m | 6:04PM1.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:28AM0.23m | 7:14PM0.52m | 6:54AM0.38m | 8:34PM0.49m | 7:24AM0.55m | 10:16PM0.40m | 8:07AM0.70m | 11:53PM0.22m | 9:45AM0.82m | 1:00AM0.02m | 11:34AM0.83m | 1:51AM-0.16m | |||||||
— | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
130 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 16 | 167 | 134 | 96 | 155 | 108 | 168 | 106 | 136 | 132 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 11 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
59 | 100 | 98 | 72 | 113 | 107 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 112 | 248 | 173 | 92 | 69 | 90 | 69 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 20 | SW 20 | W 5 | W 5 | S 9 | W 5 | W 4 | SW 23 | W 8 |
79 | 68 | 102 | 66 | 53 | 69 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 60 | 64 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | SW 9 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 20 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 69 | 139 | 1 | 23 |
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.











