Donuts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty.

Look, I’m going to be straight with you. The next couple of weeks at Donuts are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak SW swell and hardly a decent wave on the cards. The water is sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re staring at flatness.

The first few days, from Tuesday the 18th through to the following Monday, are basically a write-off. Swell heights are hovering around 1ft to 3ft with periods of 13-16 seconds, but the energy is weak, with combined energy values sitting between 198 and 417. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, chopping up what little push there is. You’d be fighting for a crumbly, gutless wave. Not worth the paddle.

The one tiny spark in this whole dull run is Monday afternoon, the 24th of August. The wind goes glassy, and the swell ticks over to 2ft at 17 seconds from the SW. That’s the kind of calm, clean window that makes even a small day feel special. It’s still small, but if you’re desperate for a slide, that’s your moment. The energy is only moderate at 300, so don’t expect any power, but at least it’ll be smooth.

After that, it’s back to the same story. Light cross-onshore breezes, small swells, and very ordinary conditions through the end of August. There is a slight bump in size around the 29th and 30th, with waves pushing up to 3ft and the energy climbing to 578, but it’s still all SW groundswell with that onshore wind messing it up. It might look tempting on paper, but the conditions are likely to be lumpy and uninviting.

The first week of September doesn’t offer much hope either. The swell stays small, the wind stays less than ideal, and we’re still looking at poor surf. Honestly, if you’re not a masochist, you’re better off finding something else to do for the next two weeks. This is a classic case of a long, flat, blown-out run.

This whole stretch is a real test of patience. But that’s the nature of this spot sometimes. It’s inconsistent, and when it’s not working, it’s not working. The only thing I’d be watching is that glassy Monday afternoon window. If you can get out then, you might snag a couple of clean little runners. Otherwise, keep the board in the car and the wax in the cupboard.

Rusty.

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