
Surf Forecasts:
Donuts surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 371 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) 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+) | 8AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Donuts over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one to write. We're looking at the next 16 days at Donuts, and I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: the surf is essentially flat and messy for the entire stretch. There's no standout session, no window of clean, rideable waves. The whole forecast period is a write-off, I'm afraid.
From the 7th of August right through to the 22nd, we're stuck with weak, short-period swell. The combined energy mostly sits between 247 and 613 (moderate), but the problem is the wind. It's almost constantly cross-onshore, sometimes onshore, creating bumpy, choppy conditions. The swell height is tiny, mostly between 1 ft and 4 ft, and with a period of 13 to 20 seconds it's a long-period groundswell, but it's just too small to do anything with. The water temp is a very unusual 74°F – much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a bit of a head-scratcher when there's nothing to ride.
You'll notice a bit of a pulse around the 15th and 16th of August, with the swell pushing 4 ft and the combined energy hitting 613, but it's still cross-onshore and choppy. The 21st and 22nd of August show a similar bump in energy (480 to 560) but again, the wind is a problem. There's a couple of mornings with offshore wind, like the 14th and 21st of August, but the swell is tiny (2 ft to 3 ft) and the wave comment says "poor surf conditions". It's a classic case of a reef that's sheltered and needs a specific direction, but the direction we're getting (SW) is not the optimum (W), and the wind is just wrecking the surface.
Honestly, for a spot that's inconsistent anyway, a blank run like this isn't that unusual. It’s a tough one. The only positive I can see is that the energy shows signs of picking up in the second week, but with the wind patterns we've got, it's a no-go for a paddle. If you're a kite surfer, the combination of cross-onshore wind and a bit of swell might look a little more interesting, but for a surfboard, don't bother. Keep an eye on the forecasts, 'cause it tends not to stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
173 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | 275 | 217 | 211 | 183 | 134 | 142 | 164 | 197 | 249 | 179 | 254 | 251 | 245 | 239 | 273 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:55PM1.67m | 7:39AM1.00m | 6:04PM1.80m | 8:19AM1.11m | 7:03PM1.93m | 8:53AM1.21m | 7:55PM2.03m | 9:27AM1.31m | 8:43PM2.07m | 10:01AM1.40m | 9:28PM2.03m | 10:34AM1.47m | 10:12PM1.92m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:00AM0.02m | 11:34AM0.83m | 1:51AM-0.16m | 12:50PM0.74m | 2:36AM-0.29m | 1:48PM0.62m | 3:16AM-0.35m | 2:39PM0.50m | 3:53AM-0.35m | 3:26PM0.40m | 4:28AM-0.29m | 4:13PM0.34m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
103 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | 275 | 217 | 211 | 183 | 118 | 142 | 164 | 197 | 249 | 179 | 254 | 251 | 245 | 239 | 273 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 5 | WNW 5 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | WSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 20 |
173 | 92 | 69 | 90 | 11 | 8 | 61 | 19 | 63 | 134 | 133 | 118 | 120 | 48 | 46 | 44 | 37 | 59 | 57 | 97 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | W 4 | S 9 | SW 23 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 21 | W 4 | W 4 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 7 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | WNW 9 | SW 12 | W 8 | S 10 |
6 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 69 | 31 | 72 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 4 | 4 | 57 | 45 | 44 | 40 | 16 | 39 | 12 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | — | WNW 4 | W 4 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | 9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 301 | 1 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 166 | 1 | 6 | 48 | 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.











