Surf Forecasts:
Doheney Beach surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 867 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Doheney Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Doheney Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Doheney Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Doheney Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Doheney Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Alright, straight up, this is a bit of a mixed bag. We've got a solid run of small to moderate swell hanging around, but the wind is rarely your friend here. The water is sitting at 72°F which is a full 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so you'll be paddling around in a t-shirt – that's a real treat for late August.
The first real chance to get a wet suit on starts Wednesday morning, August 26th. We're looking at 5ft of south swell, with a 12-second period. The energy is moderate (881). The problem is the wind is blowing cross-on from the SSW, so it's going to be a bit bumpy. The score is marginal, but it's something. That afternoon, it gets worse – onshore and poor. Thursday, August 27th, is much the same story: 4ft of south swell in the morning, but the wind is straight onshore from the south. It's a write-off.
Friday, August 28th, the swell drops to 3ft from the SSW, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. That's proper groundswell, but it's a double-edged sword at a beach break like Doheney. It can get a bit too straight and fat. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it'll be clean, but tiny. The energy is moderate (520). Not a standout.
Saturday, August 29th, is a bit of a tease. The morning sees 4ft from the SSW with a 17-second period (805 energy), but the wind is cross-on. The afternoon has 4ft with a 16-second period (860 energy) and a light cross-shore breeze. It's better, but still not what you'd call firing. Sunday, August 30th, the wind is onshore again in the morning, so skip it.
The real standout, the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Thursday, September 3rd. That afternoon, we get a solid 6ft of SSW swell with a 12-second period. The energy is strong (1079). The wind goes light and cross-offshore from the NW. That's the magic combo. It's going to be clean. The report says it's excellent for experienced surfers, and that's because it's over 5ft, so it's a bit punchy for the beginners. This is the best on offer, no question.
Before that, Wednesday, September 2nd, has a chance in the afternoon with 5ft from the SSW (703 energy) and light cross-shore wind, but it'll be a step down from Thursday.
After that Thursday highlight, the swell backs off. Friday, September 4th, to Sunday, September 6th, sees a drop to 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with periods in the 14-16 second range. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, so it's surfable but nothing special. The energy numbers are moderate (864 down to 476). Monday, September 7th, and Tuesday, September 8th, are even smaller, under 3ft. Tuesday afternoon has a tiny 2ft swell with an 18-second period (413 energy) and a clean cross-offshore wind, but it's just too small to get excited about.
The final week, from September 9th to 10th, is a bust. Swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, and the conditions are poor or marginal. The energy is weak (410-543). There's not much to chase.
So, to sum it up: the run of swell is consistent, but the wind is the killer most days. The one true standout is Thursday afternoon, September 3rd. That's your session. If you can't make that, the mornings of September 2nd or the afternoon of August 29th are your next best bets. Everything else is a gamble on the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
649 | 529 | 317 | 387 | 272 | 270 | 347 | 147 | 867 | 692 | 733 | 706 | 498 | 400 | 321 | 414 | 423 | 403 | 300 | 287 | 416 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:37AM1.67m | 8:46PM2.20m | 9:57AM1.75m | 9:20PM2.17m | 10:19AM1.82m | 9:55PM2.09m | 10:42AM1.90m | 10:32PM1.96m | 11:06AM1.97m | 11:12PM1.79m | 11:35AM2.01m | 11:59PM1.59m | 12:08PM2.03m | 1:01AM1.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:41PM0.94m | 3:38AM0.25m | 3:17PM0.85m | 4:02AM0.29m | 3:53PM0.77m | 4:25AM0.38m | 4:33PM0.70m | 4:48AM0.50m | 5:16PM0.66m | 5:12AM0.64m | 6:05PM0.64m | 5:36AM0.79m | 7:06PM0.65m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | W 8 | W 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 14 | W 7 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 |
649 | 529 | 317 | 387 | 272 | 153 | 95 | 49 | 867 | 692 | 733 | 213 | 135 | 400 | 131 | 414 | 423 | 403 | 300 | 287 | 416 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 9 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 7 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 |
203 | 193 | 171 | 132 | 103 | 270 | 347 | 52 | 89 | 86 | 108 | 706 | 498 | 79 | 321 | 54 | 158 | 11 | 116 | 67 | 111 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 8 | SW 13 | S 9 | SW 14 | S 8 | W 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 13 | S 12 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SW 13 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 |
29 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 31 | 88 | 78 | 147 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 14 | 90 | 113 | 233 | 233 | 35 | 88 | 8 | 5 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 71 | 76 | 76 | 74 | 76 | 0 | 74 | 97 | 6 | 76 | 97 | 85 | 76 | 97 | 12 | 76 | 97 | 0 | 97 | 97 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Doheney Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Doheney Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Doheney Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Doheney Beach 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 (Doheney Beach) 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 Doheney Beach 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.
Doheney Beach is 2 km (1 miles) from Dana Point. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dana Point. Dana Point has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











