Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. We got a long 16-day window for Doheney Beach, and it's a slow starter. First few days are flat and crappy, so don't bother. Things start to wake up right near the end of the first week, but the real score is hiding in the second week. Let's break it down.

We start Monday, the 24th of August. Doheney is a reef break, and we got tiny 2ft waves from the SW. The water's way warmer than usual, pushing 74°, which is a solid 6° above average – that's a real head-scratcher. But the vibe is dead, with a light cross-onshore breeze making a mess. The combined swell energy is weak, only about 302, and conditions are poor. This carries into Tuesday the 25th, with the swell nudging up to about 2.6ft from the S on Tuesday afternoon, but it's still nothing to wake up for. The energy is a bit better at 544, but it's marginal.

Wednesday the 26th brings a jump to 5ft from the S, but with a short 12-second period and the wind is straight onshore. That size is a bit much for beginners, and the quality is just not there. The combined energy is moderate at 902, but conditions are poor. We drag through the end of the week with similar marginal stuff, waves from 2.6ft to 4ft, mostly onshore breezes, and nothing worth grabbing your board for.

Saturday the 29th is our first real flicker of hope. We get a clean 3.3-3.6ft swell from the SSW with a nice long 17-second period. The combined energy is strong at 715-752, and we get some glassy conditions Saturday afternoon with a light cross-shore breeze. This is the best of the first week, but it's still a background swell.

Sunday the 30th gets a bit blown up with a moderate breeze, and we slide back into poor conditions through Monday the 31st.

Now here's where it picks up. Tuesday the 1st of September rolls in with an ENE cross-offshore breeze, cleaning up a 4.3ft S swell (12-second period). That's a nice combo. But the real treat is Tuesday afternoon: a glassy 4ft S swell with the wind dropping to nothing. The combined energy is a moderate 441, but it's glassy. This is a sneaky-good session if you're out there.

Wednesday the 2nd of September keeps that theme going. A clean 4ft S swell with a cross-offshore wind. This is looking like the most consistent, cleanest run of surf we've had all period.

For the rest of the first week of September, it's a slow fade back into marginal conditions with choppy afternoons and onshore winds. Swell sticks around the 3.3-4ft mark, but the quality isn't there.

Finally, we hit the absolute standout of the whole outlook. Monday the 7th of September. We get a long-period groundswell from the SW hitting 2-2.3ft, but here's the kicker – the period is a massive 21 seconds. That's a proper groundswell packing a punch. The combined energy is strong, hitting 716. Monday morning has clean lines with a light cross-offshore breeze, and Monday afternoon goes dead flat glassy. For a reef break like Doheney, that long period is a dream – the waves will wrap in with power and hold their shape perfectly. This is a clear winner.

The very last day, Tuesday the 8th of September, gets messy again with a fresh onshore breeze.

So, if you're picking your moment, the absolute best on offer is Monday the 7th of September. The glassy conditions and that 21-second groundswell at Doheney Beach will be something special. The other standout, though a bit smaller, is Tuesday the 1st of September for the glassy afternoon session.

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