Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the coming weeks. We’re focusing on one spot, and it’s a reef setup that’s going to give us a fair bit to work with, but we gotta be patient.

The opening offer is a big one, but it comes with a serious caveat. On Wednesday morning, August 19th, we’ve got a solid pulse of swell hitting the coast. The waves are going to be a hefty 6.9 ft, pushed in from the WSW with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving, and the combined energy is absolutely pumping (2234). The wind is offshore from the SE at 9 mph, so the surface will be clean. But look, this is a reef break and at that size, it’s going to be a handful. The water’s sitting at 74.7°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year so no surprises there. This is expert territory only; if you’re not on your game, it’s going to be a long swim.

The standout session, and the one I’d be circling on the calendar, is Thursday morning, August 20th. The swell drops back to a much more manageable 4.3 ft from the WSW, still with a solid 14-second period. The combined energy is still strong (1020), but the wind is a dream – light offshore from the SE at 9 mph. This is going to be clean, glassy, and the reef will be working beautifully. The quality is excellent for experienced surfers, and with the swell direction matching the break’s sweet spot, you’re looking at the best wave of the whole forecast.

Friday morning the 21st keeps the good form going. The swell is 4.6 ft from the SW, period at 16 seconds, and the offshore wind is a bit stronger at 12 mph. It’ll be a bit more powerful but still clean. The swell energy drops a touch (894), but it’s still a very good morning. The afternoons, though, are a write-off for the rest of this week, turning choppy and messy.

We have a bit of a lull through the weekend. Saturday morning the 22nd has some 3.9 ft swell, but it’s a smaller window. Sunday is flat and windy. The break picks up again on Monday morning the 24th with 4.3 ft from the SW and offshore winds, offering another clean session. This pattern of clean mornings and blown-out afternoons holds true through the middle of the week.

Now, looking further out, things get interesting again. On Thursday morning, August 27th, we see a new pulse of longer-period WSW swell, hitting 5.6 ft with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps right back up (1576). The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but at that size and with the long period, it’s a proper reef wave. It’s a good option for the experienced crew, but it’s not the top pick of the entire forecast.

The big standout for the second week is actually Sunday morning, August 30th. That’s seven days away, so keep an eye on the forecast, but it looks promising. The swell is only 2.6 ft from the WSW, but the period is a staggering 22 seconds. That is a very long period groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (1061), but that long period will wrap beautifully into the reef. The wind is light and cross-off from the ENE at 9 mph. If this holds, it’ll be a glassy, rippable day with long, clean lines. It’s a sleeper pick.

Then on Monday, August 31st, we get a bigger push of 5.9 ft from the WSW with a 17-18 second period. The energy is massive (1989-2022). The mornings here are clean with cross-offshore winds, but this is back to that big-wave territory. For the experts, it’s a goer, but it’s a step up from the previous week.

The last real highlight is Wednesday morning, September 2nd. The swell is 3.9 ft from the WSW, 14-second period, with a light offshore wind from the SE. It’s another clean, friendly-sized day at the reef, and the combined energy (834) is solid. This is a great mellow option to close out the run.

The gaps between the really good sessions are short, mostly just a day of poor afternoon winds. The consistent nature of the reef means we’ll get waves most days, you just have to pick the morning window. The water remains at a comfortable average temp for the season.

That’s the long picture from here. Get on it when the wind is right, and don’t be a hero on the biggest days unless you’ve got the skills.

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