Doheney Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.46° N 117.68° W

Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 11 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Doheney Beach sea temperature is
23.3° C
3.6° 

Doheney Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Doheney Beach surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 807 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Doheney Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Doheney Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Doheney Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Wed 12th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s
Best Surf 2AM (Sat 15th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 17s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sat 15th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Doheney Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Doheney Beach. Honestly, it’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s a flicker of promise way down the line if you’ve got patience.

The water here is running much warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 74°, which is a solid 7° above average. That’s pretty unusual, so you’ll be surfing in a warm bath if you get in.

We kick off Tuesday, the 11th of August, with small, weak surf. Tuesday morning you’ve got a 2ft SSW swell at 13 seconds, but the wind is cross and the combined energy is only 250 – real weak. The afternoon edges up to 2ft SW, but conditions are straight up poor. Wednesday and Thursday aren’t any better, with onshore winds and tiny, messy waves. Honestly, the first few days are a write-off.

Friday, the 14th, sees a little bump in energy. The morning swell is 2ft from the SSW with a period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy hits 551 (moderate). The wind is cross-on though, so it’s still pretty average. The afternoon cleans up slightly with a cross wind, and the swell bumps to 3ft (energy 661). It’s marginal, but at least there’s a bit more push.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th is the best of the early run. Saturday morning, 3ft SSW swell at 16 seconds, energy 619, with a light cross wind. The afternoon gets to 4ft on the same swell, energy 678. It’s small, but the wind is manageable. Sunday morning holds at 3ft before the wind picks up in the afternoon and ruins it. For a beginner-friendly spot like Doheney, which is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, these little waves are about as good as it gets right now, but crowds are likely here. The swell direction from the SSW matches the optimum for the break, which is a plus.

The following week, from the 17th to the 25th, it’s a flat spell. The swells drop back to 2ft to 3ft, and the energy is mostly weak to moderate. Onshore winds plague most sessions, and the scores are all poor or marginal. The one standout is Wednesday, the 26th of August. The morning has 3ft from the SW at 16 seconds (energy 573), and the afternoon gets even better: 3ft SW swell, 16 seconds, with a clean cross-offshore breeze and scooping up to 690 energy – that’s the strongest in the whole run. The guidance says “expect very good surf conditions,” and with the wind clean and the swell direction right, that afternoon session is the clear winner of the entire 16-day window. It’s a long way off, so take it with a grain of salt, but it’s the one to keep an eye on.

Overall, if you’re a beginner, the tiny waves on Saturday or Sunday morning might be worth a splash, but the real target is Wednesday, the 26th, in the afternoon. Until then, save your wax.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
1
2
1
0
2
1
2
3
1
1
3
2
0
2
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.6
SSW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SW
15
0.7
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
18
1.2
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
252
316
193
264
261
255
353
280
299
360
807
417
683
666
499
443
367
367
264
264
Wind (km/h)
20
W
5
WSW
10
WSW
15
WSW
5
SW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
SW
10
SW
15
W
5
W
10
SW
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
WSW
15
W
5
WNW
15
W
20
W
5
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
glassy
High Tide
8:46PM2.49m
10:15AM1.79m
9:33PM2.43m
10:48AM1.87m
10:18PM2.30m
11:21AM1.93m
11:02PM2.09m
11:54AM1.96m
11:47PM1.85m
12:28PM1.96m
00:36AM1.60m
1:03PM1.93m
1:39AM1.37m
Low Tide
2:35PM0.93m
3:51AM-0.05m
3:24PM0.82m
4:26AM0.03m
4:13PM0.75m
5:00AM0.17m
5:02PM0.72m
5:31AM0.35m
5:53PM0.72m
6:00AM0.56m
6:49PM0.75m
6:27AM0.77m
7:54PM0.79m
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:40
7:39
7:38
7:37
7:37
7:36
7:34
 mm
1
Temp °C
23
21
22
22
21
21
21
19
20
21
19
20
21
20
21
22
20
22
23
21
Feels °C
24
23
23
23
22
22
21
20
20
21
19
20
20
21
21
21
20
21
21
20
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Doheney Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Doheney Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Doheney Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Doheney Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Doheney Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Doheney Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Doheney Beach is 2 km (1 miles) from Dana Point. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dana Point. Dana Point has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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