Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gather 'round, folks, it's Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for Doheney Beach over the next couple of weeks. Don't get too excited just yet, because the forecast is a bit of a slow burn, with a whole lot of marginal conditions and a few promising flashes much further out.

Right now, through the 20th and 21st, we've got a small, long-period groundswell arriving out of the SSW. Swell heights are only around 3 ft to 3 ft, with a period of 15 to 16 seconds. The water is sitting at 71°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. The problem is the wind. It's a light cross-onshore breeze, which is going to put a bit of a crinkle on the surface. It's surfable on a log, but far from clean. The wave energy is moderate, bouncing between 541 and 630 (units). Expect a few fun, lined-up walls thanks to the long period, but the chop will make it feel like a lot of work for not much reward.

Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd see the swell holding steady around 3 ft, still from the S and SSW, but the wind stays a persistent issue with a cross-onshore or cross-shore flow. The period starts to drop from 16 seconds down to 13 seconds. The energy is building, hitting 746 and then 863 (units) on Wednesday afternoon, but the texture is poor. The wind will be making it choppy and messy. It's a flat-out struggle for a decent wave.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Thursday the 24th through to the 30th of July is a real mixed bag. The swell drops back to 2 ft to 4 ft, with energy fluctuating between 612 and 1168 (units). The period is all over the place, from a very long 21 seconds down to 15 seconds. The best window in this stretch is probably the morning of the 27th of July, with a clean 4 ft SSW swell and light offshore winds from the S. That's your best bet for a sneaky session, but it's still described as "marginal." It's a long wait for a short window of half-decent conditions.

Now, the real standout is still a week and a half away, and it's a bit of a gamble. The afternoon of Friday, the 31st of July, looks like a proper bump. The swell is forecast to be a solid 6 ft out of the S, with a moderate 13-second period. The wind is forecast to shift to a light cross-offshore breeze from the WNW. That's the key. That combination will clean up the waves nicely. The wave energy is strong, hitting 1145 (units). This is the only session in the whole window that's flagged as "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." The swell is over 5 ft, so it's a bit too much for beginners, but for the rest of you, it's game on. Keep an eye on it, but don't book the trip yet.

After that, the 1st and 2nd of August look like a total flat spell, with swell dropping under 3 ft and the energy tanking. Then, out on Tuesday the 4th of August, we get another late surge. A 6 ft to 6 ft SSE swell with a 15-second period rolls in, producing very strong energy (1701 to 1821 units). The wind is light cross-shore from the W. That's a big, powerful swell for a beach break, and with a period that long, it might be a bit too straight and fat for the bank here. It could be a real handful, and more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfers if the wind picks up. It's a watch-and-see.

So, plain and simple: the best-looking surf is the afternoon of Friday, July 31st, with that 6 ft S swell and clean wind. The morning of Monday, July 27th, is your next best, but it's a lot smaller. The rest of the time? You're chasing marginal, wind-affected waves. Don't hold your breath.

Rusty.

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