Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Doheney Beach. It’s a reef setup, pretty exposed to the south-southwest, so it catches most of what rolls in. The water here is running at 76°, which is a solid 9° warmer than what’s normal for this time of year – that’s really unusual, the ocean feels like a warm bath.

Right now, the outlook is a mixed bag. We’re looking at a few days of small, weak surf before things get interesting. The first few days – Thursday, September 3rd, through Saturday, September 5th – are mostly marginal. Swell is tiny, around 2ft to 4ft, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making for messy conditions. The wave energy is low to moderate (374 to 1213), and honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate for a splash.

The real standout comes on Sunday, September 6th. That morning, Doheney Beach will wake up to a solid 6ft swell from the south, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and it’s packing some serious energy (1445). The wind is a light 3 mph cross-offshore from the west-northwest, so the surface will be clean and glassy – perfect. This is the best on offer by a long shot. The surf is described as excellent for experienced surfers, so if you’ve got the skills, get in the water. It’s a bit big for beginners at 6ft. The afternoon drops off a bit as the wind shifts cross-shore, and the quality goes marginal.

Monday, September 7th, still has some decent swell around 6ft to 7ft, from the south-southwest with 14-second periods. The energy is still strong (1411-1485). The wind is cross-offshore in the afternoon, keeping it reasonably clean. It’s a good backup day, but not quite as pristine as Sunday morning.

After that, the swell fades fast. From Tuesday, September 8th, onward, the sizes drop back to 4ft or less, and the energy weakens. By the middle of the month, from September 14th onward, we’re looking at tiny, long-period groundswells (18-21 seconds) that are only 1ft to 3ft. These waves will be weak and inconsistent, with energy down in the low hundreds (214 to 667). The wind stays light and cross-shore, but there’s just not enough push to make it worthwhile. This is a real drought for the second week – not much to get excited about through the 18th.

So, the call is clear: Sunday morning, September 6th, is your moment. The swell is solid, the wind is light and offshore, and the water is warm. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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