Donuts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk about Donuts.

Honestly, it's a bit of a tough stretch ahead for Donuts. We've got a solid run of swell on the charts, but the wind is just not playing ball for most of it. The water is sitting at a balmy 74°, which is a massive 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's very unusual and feels like bathwater.

The first real chance to get a look at things is Friday afternoon, August 7th. We're looking at a small 2ft of swell from the SW, but it's a long-period groundswell at 19 seconds, giving it some decent grunt (combined energy of 286). The problem is the wind is onshore, so the surf quality is going to be poor. This pattern really sets the tone for the next week and a half.

Saturday the 8th through to the 15th of August sees the swell slowly building, peaking around 4ft on the afternoon of the 15th, with the combined energy hitting 591. That's moderate wave energy. The direction stays solidly SW, and the period hangs in that 14-18 second range, so there's plenty of groundswell power. But the wind is a killer. We're looking at a persistent cross-onshore breeze, mostly from the WNW and NW, which is going to keep the surface messy and choppy. It's just not going to be a clean paddle.

Things get a little more interesting around the 18th and 19th. The wind looks like it could swing more onshore or even lighten up. On Tuesday morning, August 18th, we have 3ft of SW swell with a 16-second period (combined energy of 395) and the wind is onshore. Then on Wednesday morning, August 19th, the wind is a light cross-onshore breeze from the SW, which is a bit better. Still, with the swell around 3ft and a 15-second period, it's a long-period groundswell that can be a bit tricky at a reef like this, needing the right tide.

The 20th of August offers a glimmer. The Thursday afternoon session has a 3ft SW swell, 15-second period (combined energy of 363), and the wind is onshore. That's the best we're going to see with the wind actually cooperating a little.

The last few days of the outlook, into the 21st and 22nd, are more of the same: small SW groundswells with cross-onshore or onshore winds. There's a rain shower on the Friday morning that could add a bit of fresh water to the mix.

Look, the swell is there, but the wind is just not giving us a clean window. For a sheltered reef like Donuts, you need that offshore or glassy wind to make it shine, and we're just not getting it. The setup here looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for most of this forecast. It's a frustrating run. Keep an eye on the charts, because it can't stay this way forever.

Rusty.

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