Surf Forecasts:
Donuts surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, SW swell with 763 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s 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 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for this stretch.
Honestly, mate, it's a grim run ahead at Donuts (reef). We're looking at a solid stretch with no real quality surf on offer for the entire 16-day window. There's a persistent onshore or cross-onshore breeze that just won't let up, keeping the surface messy. The water is sitting at a balmy 73°F, which is 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year – a real standout in an otherwise bleak forecast.
The forecast kicks off on Thursday the 27th of August with a small, 3ft SSW swell, period 12 seconds. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it's not totally blown out, but the wave energy is moderate at best (435). The conditions are marginal at best, and it feels more like a paddle-out than a session to write home about. This theme carries on through Friday and Saturday: small swells (2ft to 4ft), moderate combined energy (265-761), and nearly always that light to gentle cross-onshore wind. The swell direction is from the SSW/SW, which is off the optimum from the west for this spot, so it's not lining up perfectly.
We see a bit of an uptick in swell size on the 3rd of September, with the morning showing 5ft from the SW, period 12 seconds. The combined energy is strong (741), and the wind is actually offshore from the WNW. That's the closest we get to a clean window, but the surf forecast is still classed as poor. Sunday the 6th of September and the following days offer nothing more than small, weak swell (2ft to 3ft) and persistent cross-onshore breezes. The longer-period swell (15-18 seconds) shows up from the 8th of September, but with the wind always on it, it’s just going to be a bumpy, close-out mess at this reef break.
Given the persistent onshore flow and the lack of a single standout session, this run is a real blank. For a spot that's already inconsistent, this is a pretty normal quiet spell. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle session, as there's plenty of wind but not much quality surf to match. I'd be saving the wax for the next window.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon night, fresh winds from the NNW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 193 | 130 | 192 | 169 | 165 | 763 | 589 | 653 | 612 | 424 | 412 | 301 | 255 | 400 | 220 | 156 | 136 | 187 | 285 | 353 | 668 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:44AM1.37m | 9:15PM1.77m | 10:07AM1.45m | 9:49PM1.71m | 10:32AM1.52m | 10:24PM1.61m | 10:58AM1.58m | 11:03PM1.45m | 11:26AM1.62m | 11:48PM1.26m | 11:59AM1.63m | 00:47AM1.06m | 12:40PM1.62m | 2:26AM0.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:18PM0.45m | 4:04AM-0.04m | 3:54PM0.38m | 4:28AM0.02m | 4:32PM0.33m | 4:52AM0.13m | 5:13PM0.29m | 5:15AM0.26m | 6:01PM0.28m | 5:38AM0.41m | 7:00PM0.30m | 6:01AM0.58m | 8:20PM0.32m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 9 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 8 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 193 | 110 | 120 | 78 | 51 | 763 | 589 | 653 | 612 | 190 | 118 | 142 | 255 | 400 | 220 | 156 | 136 | 187 | 285 | 353 | 668 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 8 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 7 | SSW 15 | W 6 | W 5 | SW 13 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 10 |
| kJ | 110 | 95 | 151 | 169 | 49 | 37 | 86 | 89 | 138 | 424 | 412 | 301 | 79 | 21 | 22 | 14 | 85 | 58 | 169 | 165 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 13 | S 12 | S 14 | SW 14 | WSW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 5 | SW 18 | WNW 5 | SSE 9 | S 15 |
| kJ | 132 | 130 | 192 | 144 | 165 | 34 | 20 | 19 | 4 | 29 | 45 | 194 | 184 | 36 | 113 | 87 | 9 | 109 | 4 | 17 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 139 | 1 | 0 | 139 | 226 | 0 | 166 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.
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