
Surf Forecasts:
Doheney Beach surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 715 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period with SW 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 (Jul 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Doheney Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Doheney Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next week and a half at Doheney Beach is a tough stretch. The first few days are a write-off: tiny, weak swell and nothing but poor surf conditions. The water is a touch warmer than the long-term average at 70°, but that’s about the only nice thing going on. From Tuesday the 14th right through to Saturday the 19th, the swell is under 3 feet, mixed with onshore and cross-shore winds, and the energy is low – you’re looking at combined energy readings in the mid-to-high hundreds, which is insubstantial. The fingernail-sized 1ft to 3ft stuff from the SW with a period of 18 seconds is a classic case of long-period groundswell that just doesn’t have any push for a beach break. Not worth paddling out.
Things take a tiny step up on Sunday the 19th. The swell jumps to 4ft from the S with a 12-second period, and the combined energy climbs to 876 – still moderate, but at least it’s something. The wind is a light cross-on from the SW, so there’s small wind ripples, not clean. The surf is still marginal, but you might find a few lumpy ones if you’re desperate. The rest of that week into the 23rd stays in the 3ft to 5ft range, with cross-on and onshore winds, and the energy slowly builds.
Now, here’s the standout. The best on offer is Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th. The swell really kicks in: 7ft to 8ft from the S, with a period of 14-16 seconds. The combined energy hits 1863 on Friday morning and peaks at 3118 on Friday afternoon – that’s strong energy, no doubt. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the W, which is a major positive – it’ll be clean, with only a slight cross-chop. This is your window. The swell direction of S is a solid match for the optimum SSW, so it’s hitting the break well. Doheney is a reef break, so that long-period S swell will wrap in nicely, but keep in mind these waves are over 8 feet, so this is for experienced surfers only. Friday the 24th afternoon and Saturday the 25th morning are the pick of the run. The crowds are listed as “often” here, so expect plenty of company. After that, the swell drops back to 3ft on Sunday the 26th, and the rest of the outlook fades into marginal, onshore slop through to the 29th.
So, bottom line: the first week is a dud. The second week, target Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th for the only real surf of the forecast. It’s not a beginner’s session, but if you’ve got the skills, get after it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri night, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tue 21 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
194 | 108 | 95 | 161 | 122 | 121 | 126 | 181 | 83 | 136 | 366 | 255 | 235 | 350 | 424 | 519 | 318 | 367 | 539 | 715 | 474 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:42PM2.56m | 11:28AM1.71m | 10:30PM2.45m | 12:09PM1.76m | 11:18PM2.26m | 12:51PM1.80m | 00:07AM2.01m | 1:33PM1.84m | 1:01AM1.74m | 2:17PM1.86m | 2:06AM1.48m | 3:04PM1.88m | 3:40AM1.29m | 3:55PM1.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:56AM-0.12m | 4:19PM0.95m | 5:38AM-0.01m | 5:15PM0.94m | 6:17AM0.16m | 6:14PM0.94m | 6:54AM0.36m | 7:21PM0.95m | 7:30AM0.58m | 8:38PM0.94m | 8:06AM0.79m | 10:09PM0.88m | 8:44AM0.98m | ||||||||
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
8:00 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | W 5 | SSW 12 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | SW 15 | SW 18 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
133 | 14 | 85 | 31 | 86 | 101 | 69 | 41 | 26 | 136 | 366 | 171 | 235 | 303 | 287 | 519 | 231 | 367 | 539 | 715 | 474 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 7 | S 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 4 | SSW 16 | S 10 | S 9 | W 6 | S 9 |
194 | 67 | 15 | 161 | 122 | 121 | 106 | 181 | 74 | 14 | 132 | 255 | 91 | 350 | 424 | 5 | 318 | 125 | 81 | 38 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 | W 16 | WNW 16 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 |
9 | 108 | 95 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 126 | 74 | 83 | 49 | 44 | 124 | 81 | 45 | 43 | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 40 | 16 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 74 | 139 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 76 | 76 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 76 | 15 | 76 | 97 | 3 | 77 | 97 | 6 | 66 | 147 |
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.











