Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Doheney Beach.

We’re going to be looking at a real mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The first week is mostly going to be a struggle, with only small, weak swells and a lot of onshore wind mucking things up. The bright spot, and the only real standout in the whole run, arrives right at the end of the first week and into the second. The water is sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year.

The first few days, starting Tuesday the 14th, are pretty grim. We’ve got a tiny 2-foot SSW swell on Tuesday morning, but the cross-shore wind is making a mess of it. The combined energy is weak (185). It’s just poor. Tuesday afternoon cleans up a little with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops to 1 feet. Wednesday and Thursday are a write-off with onshore winds and very little energy. This pattern of small, onshore slop carries right through to Friday the 17th.

There’s a slight flicker of life on Saturday the 18th. The swell bumps up to 3 feet from the SW with a long 18-second period, and the energy is starting to build (546). But the wind is still onshore, so it’s not great. Sunday the 19th sees the swell holding at 3 to 3 feet, but again, it’s cross-shore.

Now, here’s the window you want to watch. Monday the 20th of July is your best bet. The morning is okay with a 2-foot SW swell and cross-shore wind, but the afternoon is where it’s at. The wind swings cross-offshore, the swell builds to 3 feet from the SW, and the energy is solid (602). The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and that’s for real. This is the standout session. The Tuesday morning the 21st will also be rideable with a 3-foot SSW swell and light winds.

After that, we get a strange mix. The swell gets bigger – way bigger – but the wind goes straight onshore. By Thursday the 23rd, we’re looking at 5 to 7 feet of S and SSE swell. That’s solid height, but the onshore wind is going to make it a choppy, blown-out mess at this beach-and-reef setup. The combined energy is strong (over 1300), so there’s plenty of power, but it’s not going to be clean for the paddle crew. Honestly, this setup from the 23rd to the 25th looks more interesting for the kite surfers than the surfers.

The swell drops back down to a more manageable 3 feet on Sunday the 26th, coming from the SSW with a very long 19-second period. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it might be worth a look if you’re desperate and the tide is right. The long period will make it a bit walled at the beach, but it could be decent. The final stretch into the 29th is just small, marginal stuff.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a battle. The only true standout is the afternoon of Monday the 20th of July. Get out there for that window. The big swell from the 23rd to the 25th is a pass for a traditional surf unless you’ve got a kite.

Rusty.

Read more