Donuts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag around here. The swell’s gonna be running, but most of the time the conditions are just gonna let you down. Donuts (reef) is the only game in town, and honestly, it’s a frustrating wait.

Right off the bat, the water is sitting at 74°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s very unusual and something you’ll notice the moment you paddle out.

The first proper surf we see kicks off on Wednesday the 12th of August. There’s a nice little SW groundswell coming through with a period of 17 seconds – that’s proper long period, meaning good energy but long waits between sets. Swell height is around 2 ft to 3 ft. The combined energy is moderate (272), but the problem is it’s onshore and the call is “poor surf conditions.” That’s a no-go for me.

Thursday the 13th is more of the same: SW swell around 2 ft to 3 ft, 16-second period, and combined energy bumping up a bit (343 to 440). Still, the wind is onshore and it’s all messy. Not worth getting wet.

Friday the 14th through Sunday the 16th sees the swell height hovering between 2 ft and 4 ft. The period drops to 15-18 seconds, and combined energy climbs to a moderate to strong 548-604 by Saturday afternoon. But that pesky cross-onshore breeze keeps the surface chopped up. The setup is just too sloppy for a proper session.

Monday the 17th through Wednesday the 19th is much the same: SW swell, 2 ft to 3 ft, period around 14-16 seconds. The wind is cross-onshore or onshore, and the combined energy sits between 304 and 477. It’s all “poor surf conditions” – you’d be fighting the wind more than the waves.

The gap from Thursday the 20th through to Wednesday the 26th of August is a real drag. Swell drops right off, combined energy falls to weak to moderate (155-391), and the swell height is mostly 2 ft to 3 ft. The wind is cross-onshore or onshore, and it’s just flat and choppy. No recommendations for a paddle during that stretch.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. On Thursday the 27th of August, things finally change. A new S swell shows up at 4 ft with a period of 14 seconds. The combined energy jumps right up to 810-902 – that’s strong wave energy. The morning sees light cross-onshore wind with small wind ripples, and it’s only a “marginal” call. But by the afternoon – bam. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the conditions are looking good. This is the standout session in the whole outlook. The swell direction from the south is a bit off for Donuts’ optimum W swell, but with that glassy surface and 4 ft of clean swell, it’ll still be fun. Just remember, this is an inconsistent reef break, so the crowds will be a factor – it gets surfed sometimes, so you won’t be alone.

So if you’ve got patience, hang in there until the afternoon of Thursday the 27th. That’s your best chance for clean waves. Before that, it’s mostly a waiting game.

Rusty.

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