Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

Read more