Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.

We’ve got a solid run of surf at Dunes. It’s not a perfect start, but the first week has some real highlights, especially for those who like a long-period groundswell and clean conditions. Water temp is sitting at 74°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so the wetsuit call is an easy one.

Friday, August 21st kicks things off with a nice morning session. Waves are 5ft from the SW with a very long period of 16 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the ESE. That’s a recipe for clean, lined-up sets. The energy is moderate (894), but that long period is going to make for some proper groundswell walls. This is a good one for the early bird.

Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday, August 23rd are a bit of a letdown. The swell drops to 4ft - 3ft, and the wind is all over the place, mostly cross or cross-onshore. It’s surfable, but it’s going to be a bit messy and weak. The cross-off winds on Sunday afternoon keep it clean, but the swell is really small.

Monday, August 24th is where the quality comes back. Morning sees a 3ft SW swell, but the wind is offshore from the SE. That moderate offshore breeze is going to hold the waves up perfectly, making for glassy, clean lines. The period is a very long 16 seconds. This is a great window for anyone who wants empty, clean waves.

Tuesday, August 25th through Wednesday, August 26th is a holding pattern. We’ve got consistent 4ft swell, but the wind is a mix of cross-off and cross-onshore. The morning sessions on Tuesday see a clean offshore wind again, so there’s some fun to be had, but it’s not the standout.

Now, Thursday, August 27th is a big moment. The swell jumps up to 6ft from the SW with a period of 16 seconds, and the energy ramps up to strong (1741). The morning is a full-on offshore from the SSE at 22 mph. That’s going to blow the tops off perfectly. This is getting into the intermediate-to-expert zone, but for those guys, it’s going to be a proper session. Thursday afternoon is still solid with a cross-off wind.

Friday, August 28th sees a drop back to 5ft, but the morning offshore wind from the ESE keeps it clean and fun.

Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30th are a bit of a write-off. The swell is tiny (2ft - 3ft) and the wind is strong and cross-off, making it more of a wind-swell situation than a surfable wave. There’s a real gap in quality here.

Monday, August 31st is interesting. The afternoon shows a 6ft WSW swell with a very long period of 19 seconds and a massive energy spike (1990). The wind is glassy, almost nothing from the NNW. This is a very long-period groundswell, so it’s going to be for the reefs and points, not the beachbreak. It’s a bit of a wildcard, but it could be epic if it hits the right bank.

Tuesday, September 1st is the absolute standout of the whole outlook. The morning has a 6ft WSW swell, a period of 17 seconds, the energy is very strong (2048), and the wind is a clean offshore from the SSE. This is serious, proper groundswell. The wave comment suggests it’s for experienced surfers, and they’re right – 6ft with that much energy is a beast. If you’re confident, this is the day to circle.

Wednesday, September 2nd keeps the energy high with a 7ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is a cross-offshore, so it’s a bit less clean than Tuesday. Still a solid day for those who don’t mind a bit of texture.

Thursday, September 3rd and Friday, September 4th see the swell drop back to 5ft and 3ft, with mostly offshore or cross-off winds. It’s a return to fun, manageable sizes.

Saturday, September 5th closes out the period with a 5ft SW swell and a cross-off wind. The energy is moderate (1115), so it’s a solid finisher, but nothing compared to the first few days of September.

To sum it up: Monday, August 24th for the clean, glassy morning session, and Tuesday, September 1st for the big, powerful swell – that’s the one for the experts.

Rusty.

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