Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

Read more