Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Doheney Beach.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a slow grind ahead. Tuesday morning, the 11th, we’re looking at tiny 2ft surf from the SSW with a 13-second period. The wave energy is weak at 240, and with a light cross breeze, it’s gonna be pretty gutless. The water is a whopping 74° and that’s a massive 7° warmer than normal, which is super unusual for this time of year. The whole week is a bit of a struggle, with the swell staying small, mostly in the 2ft to 3ft range. The wind is mostly cross or slightly cross-onshore, so nothing is going to be clean and lined up. The wave energy does pick up into the mid to high hundreds, but it’s not translating into good surf. Thursday the 13th through Sunday the 16th, we see the swell bump up a little, but the wind is never quite right. Saturday morning the 15th has the biggest swell at 4ft from the SSW, but the period is a short 16 seconds and the breeze is junk, making it choppy. It’s not for beginners, but it’s not really for anyone else either.

The best of a pretty average bunch looks like Sunday afternoon, the 16th. We get a 3ft SSW swell at 15 seconds, with a cross-offshore breeze from the WNW at 12 mph. That’ll clean things up nicely, and the wave energy is moderate at 406. It’s not a standout, but it’s the cleanest window in the first week. The break is a reef, so it should handle that longer-period swell better than a beach, but it’s still small. There’s often a crowd here, so be prepared.

After the 16th, it’s more of the same. The swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft, winds stay light and mostly cross or cross-on, and the scores are all marginal. Nothing really fires.

The second week is a long, quiet stretch. From the 20th of August onward, the swell drops further, with heights of 1ft to 2ft. The wind is light and often onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s looking pretty flat. The wave energy drops to the low 200s and 300s, which is weak. There’s a tiny bump on the 23rd and 24th with a 19-second period, but it’s only 1ft to 2ft. That long period will make it tricky on a beach, but Doheney’s a reef, so it might hold a little shape. Still, it’s not worth getting excited about.

Honestly, if you’re desperate, Sunday afternoon the 16th is your best bet. The rest of the window is a write-off. Don’t hold your breath.

- Rusty

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