Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. We’ve got some clean windows, but also some proper wind that’s going to chop things up. The first few days are pretty average, so don’t get too excited about paddling out just yet. The real standouts, the mornings you want to circle on the calendar, are the 10th and 11th of September. Those look seriously good. Everything after that is a bit more of a lottery, but there are still some chances if you’re keen.

The only spot that's really showing any promise is Dunes. It’s a reef break, so it holds the swell way better than a beach break would. It’s a consistent spot, which is a plus, but it’s not super easy—you’ll want to be comfortable on a proper reef break. The crowds can be a factor here too, so you might want to get out early if you can.

Let's start with the opening. Sunday afternoon the 30th is a write-off. Cross-on breeze, 12 mph, it’s going to be choppy as anything with 4ft of lackluster swell. The energy is weak at 894, so don't bother. Monday the 31st has a much better morning. The wind swings to a light cross-off, and the clean-up is on. You’ve got 4ft of SW swell at 16 seconds, and that feels like a proper groundswell. The energy reading is up at 1216, which is moderate, but the quality is there for experienced surfers. Afternoon, though, the wind dies and goes cross-on again, killing the vibe.

Tuesday the 1st of September keeps the pattern. Morning is clean with a cross-off breeze, and the swell has bumped up a touch to 5ft, still from the WSW at 16 seconds. It’s good, but not epic. The afternoon those onshore winds pick up again and it’s over. The rest of the week rolls by with similar stories—mornings are your only real hope, but the swell is a bit inconsistent and the winds aren't all that reliable. It's all a bit average.

Now, let’s talk about the good stuff. The forecast for Sunday the 7th is interesting. Early, we have a strong offshore wind, a 22 mph ESE blow, with the swell at 4ft but the period has jumped to 19 seconds. That is a very long period groundswell and while it might be a bit straight for a beach break, here at a reef it could be something special. The energy is up at 1548, so there’s some serious power moving. But the afternoon that wind swings onshore at 9 mph from the NW, and the swell bumps to 6ft. That’s on the bigger side, definitely for experienced folks only.

But the real standout, the one to set your alarm for, is Thursday the 10th. The morning is glassy with a gentle offshore from the ESE. You’ve got 6ft of SW swell at a solid 16 seconds. This is clean, powerful, and has some serious push behind it with the energy at 1580. This is the best quality surf of the whole run. The next morning, Friday the 11th, is nearly as good. Another offshore, this time a moderate SSE at 12 mph. The swell is a touch smaller at 5ft, still from the WSW with a 16-second period. Energy is at 1294, but it’s still going to be an excellent, clean session.

After that, the run fades. The mornings are clean-ish, but the swell drops off. The 12th and 13th have some smaller waves in the 4ft to 4ft range, and it’s just not the same level. The water temp is 75°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so a decent summer suit is all you need.

The week after that, starting from the 14th, the swell picks back up but the wind turns onshore and blows hard. It’s going to be lumpy, messy, and not a whole lot of fun for paddling. A 6ft swell with a fresh cross-off wind on the 14th might be more interesting for the kite crew than us on our surfboards.

So to sum it up: it’s a waiting game. If you can hold out for those two mornings on the 10th and 11th of September, you’ll be rewarded. The rest is mostly about grabbing a clean morning when you can. It's not a classic stretch, but when it’s on, it will be worth it.

Rusty.

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