Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

The 16-day window kicks off with a bit of a slow start. The first few days are pretty marginal, with small swell and tricky winds keeping things from really firing. But hold on, because around the middle of the period, we’ve got a solid run of swell that’s worth planning for.

Starting Wednesday, August 12th, through to the end of the week, it’s a bit of a tease. Dunes is seeing 4ft of SW swell at a very long 16 seconds, but the wind is a cross-off from the east at 19 mph, keeping it clean but small. The wave energy is moderate (572). The water temp is 74°F, which is about 0.5°F warmer than average, so pretty normal for this time of year. The crowds are sometimes a factor here, so keep an eye out. The next few days are similar, with waist-high swell and period dropping a bit, but the morning windows often have better wind.

Friday, August 14th, morning is the first real glimmer. Offshore wind from the SE at 6 mph, with a 3ft SW groundswell at a long 17 seconds. The energy is moderate (493), and conditions are clean. This is a solid window for a morning session, but the afternoon turns choppy onshore.

The weekend (August 15th-16th) is a mixed bag. Saturday morning has light offshore winds from the SE at 3 mph, with a clean 3ft SW swell at 16 seconds. That’s a nice little window. But both afternoons and Sunday are a write-off with onshore winds.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday, August 17th, the swell starts to build. The morning is a bit messy with cross-onshore wind, but the afternoon sees a 5ft SW swell at 16 seconds, with a cross-shore wind and a jump in energy (1068). Not perfect, but the size is coming.

The standout is Tuesday, August 18th, morning. This is the best on offer. We’ve got a 5ft SW groundswell at 16 seconds, with a moderate offshore wind from the SE at 12 mph. The wave energy is solid (1337), and conditions are clean. This is for experienced surfers, as the size is pushing over 5ft, but the quality is there. The swell direction (SW) matches the break’s optimum (SW) perfectly. Crowds are sometimes an issue, so get in early.

Wednesday, August 19th, the swell jumps to 7ft from the WSW at 16 seconds, but it’s flagged as too big for this break. The energy is very strong (2389), but that’s expert territory only, and even then, the wind is not ideal for Dunes at that size.

Thursday, August 20th, morning is another good one. Offshore wind from the SE, with a 4ft WSW swell at 14 seconds. The energy is moderate (682), and it’s clean. A much more manageable size.

The following week sees a few more windows of opportunity. Friday, August 21st, again has a 7ft WSW swell, again too big for Dunes. Saturday, August 22nd, morning has a fresh offshore wind from the SE at 19 mph, with a 6ft WSW swell at 14 seconds. Clean, but the wind is strong. The energy is moderate (1128). Sunday, August 23rd, morning is another highlight. A 6ft SW swell at 16 seconds, with a light cross-off wind from the east at 6 mph. The energy is strong (1486), and conditions are clean. This is a top pick for the second week.

The last few days taper off. Tuesday, August 25th, morning has a clean 4ft SW swell at 15 seconds with a light offshore wind. A nice little session. Thursday, August 27th, morning also looks clean with a moderate offshore wind and a 3ft SW groundswell at 17 seconds.

So, bottom line: the best bets are Tuesday, August 18th, morning and Sunday, August 23rd, morning. Both have solid groundswell, clean conditions, and good energy. The rest is a mix of small windows or blown-out afternoons. Don’t sleep on that Tuesday session.

Rusty.

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