Surf Forecasts:
Donuts surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, SSW swell with 1,011 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Donuts in the next 16 days are 1.7m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days.
Alright, this is Rusty, and I gotta be straight with you: we’re looking at a pretty grim stretch for Donuts. This sheltered reef setup is just not getting the love from the ocean.
Right now, the water is sitting at a warm 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only good news. The swell is coming in from the SSW, around 3 ft, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which usually means better shape, but the energy is only moderate (388) and the wind is a cross-on shore from the WSW. The result is poor surf conditions. It’s a no-go.
We’ve got a real dry spell ahead. From Sunday, July 12th, clear through to the morning of Saturday, July 18th, every single check is showing poor surf conditions. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, and the wave quality is just not there. There’s a bit of a spike in combined energy on Saturday afternoon, July 18th, hitting 5 ft from the S with strong energy (1149), but it’s still got a cross-on wind and only gets a marginal nod. It’s not worth paddling out for.
The only real standout, and I say that cautiously, looks like Friday, July 24th. The swell picks up to 7 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the combined energy is very strong, reading 1795. That’s a solid amount of water moving. But here’s the catch – the wind is still a cross-on shore from the WNW. For a reef break like Donuts, a 7 ft swell with onshore wind is going to be a messy, blown-out wall. It’s expert territory for size, but the quality will be poor. Definitely not the one to get excited about.
Honestly, for the rest of the outlook heading into the end of July, the story doesn't change. The wind stays stubbornly cross-on or onshore, keeping the surface chopped up. There’s no clean window of light, offshore winds to make the most of any of the moderate swells that roll through. This is a tough run for a spot that’s already inconsistent. It’s the kind of forecast where you might as well wax the boat and go for a cruise, because the surf isn’t happening.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 19 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 362 | 367 | 318 | 277 | 140 | 183 | 136 | 154 | 249 | 150 | 130 | 171 | 205 | 194 | 129 | 181 | 130 | 488 | 627 | 905 | 861 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:07AM1.10m | 7:59PM2.06m | 9:50AM1.17m | 8:49PM2.11m | 10:31AM1.23m | 9:38PM2.10m | 11:12AM1.29m | 10:25PM2.02m | 11:53AM1.34m | 11:12PM1.86m | 12:35PM1.38m | 00:00AM1.64m | 1:18PM1.41m | 00:50AM1.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:42PM0.66m | 3:32AM-0.44m | 2:37PM0.60m | 4:16AM-0.47m | 3:29PM0.54m | 4:58AM-0.44m | 4:21PM0.50m | 5:38AM-0.35m | 5:13PM0.49m | 6:16AM-0.21m | 6:08PM0.50m | 6:53AM-0.03m | 7:10PM0.53m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — |
 | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:55 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 362 | 367 | 318 | 277 | 140 | 183 | 136 | 79 | 113 | 47 | 69 | 114 | 205 | 194 | 126 | 107 | 66 | 488 | 627 | 905 | 861 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | S 14 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | S 16 | W 8 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | WNW 16 |
| kJ | 15 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 101 | 133 | 93 | 154 | 249 | 77 | 57 | 171 | 203 | 122 | 106 | 82 | 130 | 34 | 246 | 209 | 48 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 24 | SW 21 | WSW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | S 12 | W 15 | SSW 13 | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 11 | 18 | 45 | 18 | 96 | 11 | 19 | 53 | 6 | 150 | 130 | 56 | 37 | 27 | 129 | 181 | 102 | 80 | 58 | 35 | 34 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 3 | WNW 9 | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 139 | 139 | 21 | 166 | 21 | 23 | 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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