Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Dunes.

We’ve got a solid run of south-west swell lining up for the next couple of weeks, but it’s not all going to be easy. There’s a lot of cross-shore wind in the mix, which will chop things up, so you’ll need to pick your windows carefully. The standout period is the second week, particularly around the 11th and 14th, when the wind cleans right off.

The surf kicks off from Monday afternoon, 31st August. It’s a bit of a messy start, I’m not going to lie. The swell is 4ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period, packing a lot of energy. The wind is a cross-shore breeze at 16 mph, so it’s going to be lumpy. The water is sitting at 74°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.

Tuesday morning, 1st September, looks a little cleaner. The swell picks up to 5ft from the WSW, still a long 16-second period, and the wind swings cross-offshore from the SSE at 12 mph. The combined energy is still strong. This is a good shout for a morning session. The afternoon goes back to cross-shore and messy, so aim for the early bird.

Wednesday morning, 2nd September, is another clean option. Swell drops to 4ft from the WSW, 15-second period, cross-off wind from the S at 12 mph. The energy is moderate. Not a big day, but clean and rideable.

Thursday morning, 3rd September, it’s back to 5ft from the SW, 13-second period, with clean cross-off winds from the S at 16 mph. Moderate energy. Worth a look.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all have surf, but the wind is either a fresh breeze or a cross-shore, making it pretty average. There’s a brief moment on Sunday morning, 6th September, with offshore SE wind at 22 mph, which will clean up the 3ft swell, but that’s a strong wind to fight against.

Monday, 7th September, has a sneaky afternoon pulse. The swell hits 5ft from the SW with a very long 17-second period and the energy cranks up. The catch? The wind is onshore from the NW at 6 mph. Not ideal, but that long period groundswell might offer some clean lines at the reef if you’re lucky.

Now, the real gem. Friday morning, 11th September. The swell is 5ft from the SW, 15-second period, and the energy is high. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at just 6 mph. That’s glassy. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” and I’d agree. That’s the morning to clear your schedule. The wind is light, the swell is solid, and it’s clean. Crowds are possible at Dunes, so get in early.

Saturday, 12th September, is back to cross-shore winds, so don’t expect much.

Sunday, 13th September, shows a strong pulse. The morning has 5ft from the SW, 16-second period, and the combined energy is very strong. The wind is cross-off from the S at 12 mph, so it’s clean. That’s a proper swell, but at 5ft, it’s getting into the territory where beginners might find it a bit much.

Monday morning, 14th September, is another standout. The swell is 4ft from the SW, 15-second period, with a gentle offshore wind from the SSE at 9 mph. That’s a clean, offshore, glassy morning. The energy is moderate, but the quality will be there.

After that, the last few days of the forecast settle down. The wind gets messy again, and the swell stays around 4ft, so it’s more of a slow fade.

Best bet: Friday morning, 11th September, for the cleanest conditions and a solid swell. The Monday morning, 14th September, is also a great call with that offshore wind. Tuesday morning, 1st September, is a good early option too.

Rusty.

Read more