Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a slow start with this one. Looking at the whole 16-day window for Doheney Beach, the first week is going to be tough going. Don’t get your hopes up for the opening days. There’s a real gap of quiet conditions from now right through the middle of next week.

The first recommendation comes in on Wednesday, July 8th. It’s small, with a 3ft SSW groundswell. The combined swell energy is a moderate 813, but it’s got a long 16-second period which will give it some push. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The early morning has a light offshore from the SSW, so it might look tempting, but the forecast flags it as marginal. The wind swings cross-shore by the afternoon, so the shape will get a bit knocked around. Honestly, it’s not worth rushing out for.

Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th are pretty much a write-off. The swell drops a fraction to 3ft, but the wind turns onshore from the south, making things choppy and bumpy. Combined energy drops to the 400s, and with the wind all over it, you’re looking at poor surf conditions. Saturday and Sunday look like more of the same, just small, messy, and not worth your time. That whole stretch from the 11th to the 14th of July sees the swell shrink right down to below 3ft. The wind stays cross-onshore, so it’s all just weak and sloppy.

The tide does turn a bit around the 16th. On Thursday afternoon, July 16th, we see a bit of hope. The swell is tiny at 1ft but it’s getting some long-period energy from the SW (16 seconds). The wind turns cross-offshore from the WNW, which will clean it right up. It’s a marginal call, but for a longboard or a foiler it could be a fun little session. The energy is still weak at 208.

But the real standout, the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Sunday, July 19th. That morning sees a big pulse of swell hit, jumping to 8ft from the SSE. The combined energy ramps up to a hefty 3051. That’s strong energy. The period is a solid 16 seconds. It’s a big groundswell. Now, at 8ft, it’s only for experienced surfers. That afternoon it gets even better: 8ft SSE swell with cross-offshore WNW winds. They’re calling it clean and excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is the session to chase if you know what you’re doing. Doheney is an exposed reef, so it’ll handle that long-period energy well, though it might be a bit of a handful if you’re not comfortable with the current.

Monday the 20th will still have some leftover size at 7ft from the S, but the wind goes onshore, so it’ll be a step down from Sunday’s perfection. After that, it all fades away again into small leftovers for the rest of the week.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust. The second week has a tiny clean window on the 16th, but the absolute big winner is the afternoon of July 19th. Get on it if you can handle it.

Rusty, signing off.

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