Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Dunes. It’s a reef setup, consistent, and it’s going to take a bit of patience before we see the real magic.

The window kicks off this Saturday, the 8th of August, but honestly, don’t get too excited just yet. The morning is a write-off with a strong 19 mph southerly cross-off wind and only 5ft of SW swell. The combined energy is weak (902), so it’s choppy and messy. The afternoon turns clear but the wind cranks up to 25 mph, which is just ugly. No go.

Sunday morning, the 9th, we see a glimmer of hope. The wind swings to the southeast at 22 mph, offshore, and the swell bumps up to 5ft from the SW with a period of 14 seconds. The energy is starting to build (1104). It’s still a bit of a wrestle, but the sets will have some shape. The real standout of the early window is Sunday afternoon: the wind drops to a gentle 9 mph from the SSE, still offshore, and the swell hits 5ft with a lovely 17-second period. The combined energy is moderate (1416), and the water is a pleasant 75°, about average for this time of year. This is the best session of the first week – clean, lined up, and built for experienced surfers.

Monday the 10th is a step down. The morning has a 12 mph cross-off wind and 4ft swell, which is okay but not special. The afternoon is cross-shore and choppy. Tuesday the 11th is a mess in the morning with a 28 mph offshore that makes it hard to paddle, and the swell drops to 2ft. The afternoon is a bit better with 4ft, but still weak energy (596).

The middle of the week gets interesting. Wednesday the 12th has a clean morning with a fresh offshore, but the highlight is Wednesday afternoon: glassy conditions with a 3 mph WNW wind, 4ft of SW swell at 16 seconds, and moderate energy (712). It’s clean, it’s smooth, and it’s a great session for a quieter board. Thursday the 13th is also glassy in the afternoon, but the swell is only 3ft. Friday the 14th morning has a nice 3ft swell with a 17-second period and a moderate offshore wind – very good conditions.

Now, hold onto your wetsuit. The following week is where the real size shows up. We’ve got a big gap of a few days with nothing special, but then on Monday the 18th, the swell starts to build. By Tuesday the 19th, we’re looking at 6ft from the WSW with a 16-second period, and the energy is strong (1714). Wednesday the 20th morning is a standout for experienced surfers: 6ft, clean, and moderate offshore wind. But the real beast is Thursday the 20th morning – 7ft of SW swell at 17 seconds, with a combined energy of 2559. That’s strong, it’s powerful, and the wind is a light cross-off. This is a big, powerful groundswell. For a reef break like Dunes, this is expert territory. It’s not for the faint-hearted, and the size is likely too much for beginners. The swell is too big for the break, so only the brave need apply.

Friday the 21st morning is a beauty for the experienced crew: 5ft, glassy, and a 15-second period. The energy is still solid (1088). Saturday the 22nd has a clean morning with a gentle offshore, and Sunday the 23rd morning sees another spike: 7ft from the WSW at 16 seconds, with a fresh offshore wind. Again, too big for the break, but a dream for experts.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Sunday afternoon, the 9th of August, with clean, offshore winds and a solid 5ft groundswell. For the second week, the standout is Thursday morning, the 20th of August, with a powerful 7ft swell and clean conditions – but that’s only for the experienced. The rest of the period has some fun, smaller windows, but those two sessions are the ones to circle on the calendar.

Stay safe out there, and don’t get caught inside on the big ones.

Rusty.

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