Dana Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a tricky stretch ahead for Dana Point. The next week and a half is a mixed bag, with a few windows of rideable surf, but mostly a lot of nothing. Don’t get your hopes up for anything epic.

The first few days of the forecast window have some energy, but the quality is a real struggle. Tuesday, the 28th of July, sees a long-period SSW groundswell, around 4ft to 4ft, with a very long period of 17 seconds. That deepwater energy is huge (combined energy of 1067), but it’s being let down by a cross-onshore breeze. The waves are choppy and the conditions are marginal. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

Wednesday, the 29th, is a similar story. The swell drops a little to 4ft from the SSE, still with a nice 15-second period, but the wind is still cross-shore, keeping things messy. The combined energy is still strong (1109), so there’s power in the water, but it isn’t clean. The best of the bunch is likely Thursday morning, the 30th. We’ve got a 5ft S swell, but the period is a shorter 14 seconds, and the wind is actually light and offshore. This is the best chance for a clean surf. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast,” but given the offshore wind and decent size, this is the window to paddle out. The combined energy is 976, moderate to strong.

From Friday the 31st through the weekend, the swell holds around 4ft to 5ft, but the winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the period drops to 13 seconds. The energy is still moderate, but it’s just not clean.

Then, from Sunday, the 2nd of August, we hit a dry spell. The swell drops to 2ft or less, and the combined energy falls to 201 or below. The wind stays light, but there’s just no wave to speak of. This flat run stretches through to the morning of Monday, the 11th of August. That’s a long lull of about 10 days with nothing worth getting wet for.

The very last day of the forecast, Wednesday morning, the 12th of August, shows a tiny pulse of 2ft from the SW, with a period of 18 seconds and a combined energy of 445. That’s weak, but it’s a sign of life. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s not a goer.

So, the standout is that Thursday morning, the 30th of July. It’s the only time all the elements line up: a decent 5ft S swell with a light offshore wind. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. The rest of the run is either flat, choppy, or both. This is one of those forecasts where you’ve got to be patient and pick your moment.

Rusty.

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