Surf Forecasts:
Dunes surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 17s period, WSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, WSW swell with 2,987 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dunes this week:
The surf forecast for Dunes over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Dunes in the next 16 days are 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AWST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dunes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here, and I’ve got the full run on what’s coming at Dunes over the next sixteen days. No waiting – the surf shows up straight away.
Water temp is 74°F, right where it should be for August – nothing weird.
Monday morning (17 August) we’ve got a solid 5 ft southwest swell with a very long period of 15 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The wind is a light cross-off from the south, keeping it clean. The combined energy is 879 – moderate but with that long period, the lines will be sweet. This is a standout session for intermediates and above. The afternoon gets even better with a 16-second period and energy up to 1050.
Tuesday morning (18 August) is the absolute pick. Clear skies, a light offshore breeze from the ESE at 6 mph, and a 5 ft southwest swell with a 17-second period. Energy hits 1467. This is glassy, powerful, and lined up – the best of the whole forecast. Get in the water early.
Tuesday afternoon the swell jumps to 7 ft from the WSW with a 17-second period, energy 2581 – too big for Dunes and onshore wind from the northwest. Experts only.
Wednesday morning (19 August) is 7 ft, 2423 energy – still too heavy. Light east wind keeps it clean, but the size is overwhelming. Afternoon drops to 7 ft but gets bumpy with a cross-shore.
Thursday morning (20 August) is back to 5 ft from the SW, 15-second period, light offshore from the southeast at 12 mph, energy 1133. Clean and powerful – good for experienced surfers.
Friday morning (21 August) – 5 ft from the SW, 16-second period, offshore from the southeast, energy 1091. Another clean morning. Afternoon gets a cross-onshore – skip it.
Saturday (22 August) morning – 4 ft from the SW, 14-second period, light cross-off, energy 539. Fun on a bigger board. Afternoon gets wrecked by a 16 mph cross-shore.
From Sunday (23 August) to Tuesday (25 August) – swell drops to 3 ft to 4 ft, moderate to fresh cross-off winds, energy around 400-500. Poor conditions, chop on the face.
Wednesday (26 August) morning – only 3 ft from the WSW but with a 18-second period and fresh offshore from the SSE at 19 mph. Energy 650. Clean but tiny – more of a kite surf setup than paddle.
Saturday 29 August afternoon – 4 ft from the WSW, 18-second period, energy 1364 – but a cross-onshore from the north at 12 mph chops it up.
Sunday 30 August morning is another standout – 6 ft from the WSW, 16-second period, light offshore from the southeast, energy 1734. Powerful and clean for experienced surfers. Crowds are possible. Afternoon goes cross-onshore again.
Monday 31 August and Tuesday 1 September taper off to 5 ft to 6 ft with fresh to strong south winds. Clean but heavy wind – Tuesday morning’s offshore is 25 mph, making it tough to paddle.
Bottom line: Tuesday morning (18 August) is the best – glassy, offshore, 5 ft with serious period. Sunday morning (30 August) is the other standout, bigger and more raw for experienced crew. Get on it.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
770 | 1044 | 1031 | 1467 | 2581 | 2781 | 2128 | 1788 | 1088 | 682 | 1255 | 1129 | 976 | 816 | 623 | 521 | 450 | 357 | 368 | 566 | 580 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | on | glassy | cross-off | on | off | off | off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:06PM1.76m | 2:20AM1.90m | 2:35PM1.61m | 2:45AM1.86m | 3:01PM1.45m | 3:09AM1.80m | 3:26PM1.30m | 3:33AM1.72m | 3:54PM1.15m | 4:02AM1.62m | 4:34PM1.01m | 4:44AM1.52m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:03AM0.29m | 8:05PM0.32m | 8:35AM0.34m | 8:24PM0.43m | 9:08AM0.43m | 8:40PM0.53m | 9:41AM0.53m | 8:52PM0.63m | 10:20AM0.65m | 9:01PM0.73m | 11:21AM0.75m | 9:00PM0.84m | 1:32PM0.79m | ||||||||
6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 |
770 | 1044 | 1031 | 1467 | 2581 | 2781 | 2128 | 1788 | 1088 | 682 | 1255 | 1129 | 976 | 816 | 623 | 521 | 450 | 357 | 368 | 566 | 580 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 20 | NW 12 | N 12 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | NE 6 | N 6 | N 6 | SW 17 | — | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 20 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
41 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 342 | — | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 60 | 194 | 98 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | N 8 | — | NW 11 | NW 11 | SW 22 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | SW 16 | W 11 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 40 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 3 | — | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | ESE 3 | S 3 | — | SE 3 | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | S 3 | SW 3 | SSW 4 |
— | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 19 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1446 | 15 | 0 | 1446 | 15 | 659 | 659 | 0 | 227 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 660 | 251 | 0 | 1144 | 660 | 1446 | 1447 | 1344 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North West WA | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Dunes Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Dunes provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Dunes can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dunes surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Dunes) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Dunes may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in North West WA? If you are looking for accommodation near Dunes, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in North West WA, consider staying in Exmouth which is 15 km (9 miles) away.











