Dana Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk Dana Point. This forecast is a bit of a mixed bag – nothing huge, but a few days you can definitely make work if you time it right.

The first surf worth getting wet for comes on Friday the 21st, but it’s pretty marginal. We’ve got a small, weak 2ft SSW swell with a long 13-second period – that’s a groundswell pulse with some shape, but the combined energy is weak at (238). The water temp is about 71°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so you might not need much rubber. Friday morning has a light onshore breeze, so it’ll be a little bumpy, and since it’s a beginner-friendly spot, it’s a maybe if you’re jonesing. The rest of the weekend and Monday look poor – tiny surf and cross-onshore winds making a mess of things.

The first real standout hits on Tuesday the 25th. The energy jumps to (773) Tuesday morning with 3ft of S swell at 16 seconds. That’s a solid, long-period groundswell, meaning better shaped waves and more punch. Dana Point can handle that. The wind is light and onshore early, but it’s clean enough. For beginners, 3ft is fine, but by Tuesday afternoon it picks up to 4ft with cross-onshore wind, which will get a bit more challenging and choppy. Wednesday the 26th keeps the 4ft to 5ft range with light cross-shore winds – that’s actually a decent setup for a reef and beach break, keeping things cleaner. The period drops to 13-14 seconds, but there’s still good energy. This stretch from Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th is your best bet, with moderate to strong energy in the (700-900) range and better wind in the mornings.

Heading into the final weekend of August, Friday the 28th drops back to 2ft of long 17-second swell, energy still moderate at (583). Wind is light, so it might get glassy. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are similar, with 3ft to 4ft of SSW swell at 15-17 seconds. Winds are light but cross-onshore, so expect some lumpy sets. The long period gives them push, but at a beach break like this, you’ll get some closeouts.

Into September, things get ugly. From Monday the 31st on, the swell is small, wind picks up, and scores hit zero. By Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd, we’re looking at moderate breezes and choppy 3ft to 3ft of weak, short-period junk. This setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. Don’t bother.

The second week, around Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th, shows a modest uptick again – 3ft to 3ft of SSW swell with a long 15-18 second period, energy in the (700-800) range. Winds are light, so there could be clean windows. But it’s a long way out, so promising but uncertain. The final Saturday the 5th looks poor again.

The best on offer? Hit it hard from Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th. You’ll get 3ft to 5ft of S to SSW groundswell with 12-16 second periods, light winds in the mornings, and solid energy in the water. Crowds at Dana Point can stack up when it’s small, so get out early for the cleanest peaks.

Stay patient, and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Rusty.

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