Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the only game in town for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got one spot on the radar, Dunes, and it’s a reef setup that’s consistently exposed to the southwest swell. The water temperature is sitting at 75°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The first few days are a bit of a tease with clean lines but not much push. The real story starts to build towards the end of the first week and into the second.

The week kicks off on Tuesday, 28 July, with a modest 3ft SW groundswell, period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (219), and with a cross-off breeze, it’s rideable but nothing to write home about. Wednesday morning is similar, but the wind is a bit stronger. Honestly, the first few days are just a warm-up.

Thursday, 30 July, is where things get interesting. The morning sees a clean 3ft SW swell, but the period jumps to 17 seconds, and the energy picks up to 427. The wind is offshore – glassy and clean. That’s a proper morning session. The swell is still small, so it’s good for everyone, but those long-period lines will be lining up nicely on the reef.

Friday, 31 July, keeps the fun going. Another 3ft SW swell, period 16 seconds, and a cross-off breeze. The energy is building (383). It’s clean, consistent, and the reef will be handling that long-period groundswell well.

Now, the standout window. Saturday, 1 August, the swell jumps to 4ft SW, still with a 16-second period, and the energy is now strong at 667. The morning is clean with a cross-off. This is the pick of the first week – a proper long-period groundswell heading straight into the reef. The water is still around 75°, and for a Saturday, you can expect some company at the break, but it’s worth it.

Sunday, 2 August, the wind picks up and the conditions get messy. Monday looks no better. We hit a bit of a lull in quality.

But then, hold onto your boards. Tuesday, 4 August, has a weird one – rain showers and onshore wind in the morning, but the afternoon goes dead calm. Glassy. The swell is 3ft SW, 15-second period, and the energy is strong (487). That afternoon glass-off could be a sneaky good session.

The real highlight, though, is Wednesday, 5 August. The morning brings a 4ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period, and the energy is very strong (759). The wind is light offshore from the southeast. This is as clean as it gets. The water is still warm. This is the one to circle.

Then things get serious. Thursday, 6 August, the swell hits 6ft SW, with a 15-second period, and the energy is massive (1753). The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze. This is excellent surf, but it’s big – over 5ft, so it’s getting too much for beginners. The experienced crew will be in their element. The afternoon turns a bit onshore, so get it early.

Friday, 7 August, backs off slightly to 4-5ft, but the period is a massive 19 seconds in the afternoon. The energy is insane (1821). The wind is cross-shore, but with that kind of period, the reef will be handling it.

Saturday, 8 August, is another big day – 6ft SW, 18-second period, energy over 2100. The morning is clean, but the afternoon gets howling wind. Get in the water early. The following days, 9-11 August, keep the swell in the 4ft to 6ft range, but the wind is a constant cross-off, so the conditions are workable. The energy stays high.

By 12 August, the swell drops back to 3ft, and the energy fades. The window is closing.

So, the standouts? Thursday, 30 July morning for a clean, fun groundswell. But the absolute best on offer is Wednesday, 5 August morning – that 4ft SW at 17 seconds with light offshore wind is a dream session for the reef. For the big wave crew, Saturday, 8 August morning is the one to aim for, but it’s for experts only.

Rusty, signing off.

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