Donuts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. I’ve had a long look at the charts for Donuts, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid run of poor conditions that lasts a full two weeks, before a couple of mornings right at the very end of the outlook that might just give you a little something to work with.

The water temperature is sitting at 71°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Not a game-changer, but a nice little bonus if you can get in the water.

Right from the start, Sunday the 6th of September, it’s a write-off. We’ve got a 6ft SSW swell, but it’s coming with a nasty 16 mph cross-on wind from the NNW, making it choppy and blown-out. The energy is strong, reading 1110, but it’s useless for a clean ride. This same messy pattern hangs around. Monday the 7th is clear skies but still cross-on with a 6ft SSW swell. Tuesday the 8th drops slightly to 4ft but the wind stays cross-on. Wednesday and Thursday the 9th and 10th see the swell drop to under 3ft, with a very long period of 16 seconds, but the wind is still cross-on. That long period (16 seconds) is a proper groundswell, which at a reef like Donuts can be alright, but not when the wind is on it.

This grim run continues all the way through. The energy levels fluctuate but never get the right wind to unlock the potential. From the 11th to the 19th of September, the reports just say “poor surf conditions” day after day. The wind is a mix of cross and cross-on, with speeds between 6 and 16 mph. There’s a moment on the 13th where the swell bumps up to 5ft from the W, but it’s a short period of 9 seconds and still cross. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most of these days. The energy is moderate, ranging from 279 to 522, but it’s all wind-chop.

Now, hold on. Look at the 20th of September. That Sunday morning and afternoon, the report changes to “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” scoring a 1. It’s the first time we get an onshore wind from the WNW at a light 6 mph. The swell is 3ft from the SW with a very long 17-second period. The energy is 434. It’s not a standout, it’s not perfect, but after two weeks of nothing, this is the closest thing we’ve got. The light wind and clean skies will make it look a lot better than anything else in the window. If you’re desperate, that’s your window.

After that, Monday the 21st reverts back to poor conditions.

So, to sum it up: there is no classic “best day” here. The only thing worth mentioning is Sunday the 20th of September. Donuts (reef) with a 3ft SSW swell, very long period (17 seconds), and light WNW onshore wind. It’s inconsistent and the crowds are sometimes a thing here, so you might have it quiet. For the rest of the 16 days, it’s a bust. Keep an eye on the charts, though – it tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

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