Doura Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, and I've got to be straight with you—the outlook for Doura over the next 16 days is a bit of a grind. We've got a river-mouth setup here that's fairly exposed to the northwest, and while there's swell poking through in the first week, it's constantly getting messed up by the wind. If you're an advanced surfer who knows the spot, there are a few windows where it cleans up enough for a go, but don't expect any magic.

The water's sitting at 72°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year—nothing crazy, but you'll be glad of the wetsuit.

We start with a real flat spell. The first week just isn't offering much. On Monday the 10th morning, there's a 3ft northwesterly swell with a short 7-second period and weak energy (94). The wind is light and cross, but the wave comment says it's poor, so I'm not getting excited. Tuesday the 11th is more of the same—3ft from the NW, period still short at 7 seconds, energy even weaker (79). Wednesday morning the 12th bumps up with a score of 1—"surfable waves but very ordinary conditions"—with 3ft from the NW and a light cross-offshore wind keeping it clean. The swell's period is only 6 seconds though, so it's small and weak (86).

Thursday the 13th morning is the first real flicker of hope. We've got 4ft from the northwest, period jumping to 9 seconds, and energy climbing to 191 (moderate). The wind is a light NNE cross-off, keeping things clean. That's a surfable wave, but it's not a standout by any stretch. Friday the 14th morning is similar—3ft NW with a 9-second period and energy of 202—again clean with a light northerly cross-off. These mornings are your best bet for a paddle, but the afternoons all turn to rubbish with cross-shore winds.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th see the swell a bit bigger, around 4ft to 4ft from the NW, but the wind switches to cross-onshore, and the wave comment is "poor." The set-up at a beach-and-reef river mouth with that kind of wind would actually be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer through those afternoons.

The second week drops right off. From the 17th onward, the swell fades to 2ft or smaller, energy drops below 100, and most sessions are recorded as poor. There's a long gap with no real recommendations. The only glimmer comes right at the end on Monday the 24th morning. We've got 3ft from the NNW with a short 6-second period, but the wind is a gentle offshore from the NE—clean. Energy is weak at 93, so it's still ordinary surf, but at least the wind is good. It's the only session in the last nine days that gets a score of 1.

The best on offer is the Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th mornings. Those are the sessions to target. Clean conditions, moderate energy (191 and 202), and a bit more period at 9 seconds. It's not pumping, but it's surfable for an advanced surfer who can work a river-mouth wave. Don't expect a crowd—it's only sometimes busy here—and the wave is inconsistent, so pick your tide and go.

Rusty.

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