Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, with a look at what’s coming up for Dunes over the next couple of weeks.

The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag, but there is some solid, long-period groundswell on the cards, mostly from the SW, which is exactly what this reef setup loves. The water temp is sitting at a pleasant 74° today, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The big story is the swell energy, which is moderate to strong throughout, with combined energy values often pushing into the 800-1400 range.

Let’s start with Thursday afternoon (20th August). There’s a 5ft SW swell rolling in with a very long 16 second period, and with the wind being a light WNW onshore, it’s a bit marginal. Not the pick of the week.

Friday morning (21st August) looks much cleaner with a light E cross-offshore wind and a slightly smaller 5ft SW swell (16 seconds). The waves will be well-shaped and clean, but you won’t be alone – this spot can get crowded sometimes.

Saturday morning (22nd August) offers another clean session with a 4ft SW swell, a 14 second period, and a light S cross-off breeze. It’s more of a fun-size day for the log or a mid-length.

The standouts start to appear on the 24th. Monday morning (24th August) is a true highlight here at Dunes. You’ve got a 3ft swell from the WSW, but don’t let the size fool you – the period is a very long 16 seconds, and with a moderate offshore wind from the SE, conditions will be glassy and clean. That’s a really fun pulse of energy for the reef, with moderate combined energy (692). This is a great morning for the experienced surfer looking for lined-up walls. Crowds are possible, as always.

The surf holds through the week, but the wind gets tricky. Wednesday morning (26th August) is worth a paddle with a light southerly cross-off breeze and 3ft SW swell (16 seconds). Nice and clean.

Then we get a real bump. Thursday morning (27th August) sees the swell jump to 6ft from the WSW with a 17 second period. That’s a serious amount of water – the combined energy reads a strong 2017. It’s a bit big for beginners and will be a proper test for intermediates. The wind is a fresh 35 km/h cross-offshore from the south, keeping the faces clean, but that’s a lot of wind. This is more for the expert crew who can handle the power. Friday morning (28th August) is also a standout with a 5ft SW swell, a fresh 30 km/h offshore wind from the SSE, and clean conditions. The wave quality will be excellent for stronger surfers.

Looking further out, the forecast gets really interesting for Monday morning, 31st August. We’re looking at a 5ft swell from the WSW with an 18-second period, combined energy at 1434, and a gentle offshore wind from the SE. Conditions will be excellent for experienced surfers. This is a long-range call, but it is promising. Tuesday morning (1st September) keeps the 6ft SW swell going, but with a light onshore wind, so the morning window on the 31st is the clear winner for the second week.

After that, there are more clean mornings on 2nd and 4th September, but nothing that tops that 31st morning. Generally, a decent run of clean, lined-up swell, with the 24th and 31st being your best bets.

- Rusty

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