Dunes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surf’s up… or it’s gonna be. Let’s break down this stretch from the Dunes. We’ve got a window here with some real potential, but you gotta pick your moments. The first couple of days are just small and soft – Sunday the 16th has a 3ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and while the morning is glassy with light ESE winds, it’s pretty weak. The energy is only at 330, so it’s more of a longboard or a funboard kinda session. Monday the 17th picks up a bit, 4ft with a 15-second period, and the morning’s looking clean with that cross-off SSW wind. Energy jumps to 811, so it’s starting to feel more alive. The swell direction is WSW, which is good for the Dunes. Tuesday the 18th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning has 5ft of SW swell, 17-second period, and a light offshore SE wind. Energy is at 1451, and the conditions are looking clean. This is a proper session for the experienced crew. The afternoon, however, turns onshore and gets a bit messier, so get out there early.

Now, here’s the thing about Wednesday the 19th. The morning has a solid 7ft of WSW swell, 16-second period, but the note is clear – it’s predicted to be too big for this break. That’s a lot of water moving, with energy at 2234. Unless you’re really comfortable in heavy, critical waves at a reef, this might be one to watch from the sand. The wind is light offshore, so it’ll be clean, but it’s a strong, powerful swell. Thursday the 20th backs down a touch to 5ft SW, and the morning is good – gentle offshore SSE wind and clean conditions, energy at 979. That’s a fun size. Friday the 21st stays similar, 5ft SW with a moderate offshore ESE wind, but the energy has dropped a bit to 1106. Still good.

The weekend rolls in and the swell starts to fade. Saturday the 22nd is down to 4ft, and while it’s clean in the morning, the energy is only around 537. It’s not bad, but not great. Sunday the 23rd drops further to 3ft, and the morning is clean but small. The afternoon turns onshore and the call is poor. We’re in a bit of a lull here. Monday the 24th is more of the same – small, clean mornings but weak energy. That run of small surf carries through to the middle of the week with onshore winds and rough conditions. You’ll see some bigger swell on Wednesday the 26th afternoon, with 4ft and a long 18-second period, but the wind is messy and the conditions aren't great.

The real standout that’s worth circling on the calendar is Thursday the 27th. The morning sees 6ft of WSW swell from a 16-second period, and the wind is offshore SSE. Energy is at 1707, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the pick of the second week, no question. But it’s a long way off, so take it with a grain of salt. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th see the swell dropping but with some long-period energy – Saturday morning has a 3ft swell with a 20-second period, which is a very long interval. That can be a bit weird at beach breaks, but for a reef like Dunes, it can mean some nice lines, though the size is small.

The last call is Sunday the 30th, and it’s a big one again – 7ft of WSW swell with a 17-second period, and again, the note says it's too big for this break. That’s a lot of energy (2582). Too much for most. Monday the 31st backs off to 6ft, still chunky and clean in the morning, but it’s still a powerful swell.

So, for the best of it, you’re looking at Tuesday the 18th morning and Thursday the 27th morning. Tuesday has that quality 5ft SW swell with offshore wind and clean conditions – that’s a proper, fun, powerful surf. Thursday the 27th is bigger, also with an offshore wind, but it’s a week and a half out, so it’s a promising one, but we’ll see how it shapes up. Crowds at Dunes are sometimes an issue, so on those mornings, get in early. This spot is consistent, so it won't stay flat for long.

That’s the story from the beach.

Rusty.

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