Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, giving you the same outlook in feet and miles per hour.

The first few days are a tough go. Starting Sunday the 23rd of August, we’ve got tiny waves – just 1ft to 2ft from the SW. The water is sitting at a very unusual 73°F, which is much warmer than normal, but the surf is flat. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s not trashed, but the wave energy is weak and the conditions are marginal. Not much to work with.

Monday and Tuesday stay the same: tiny 2ft swell from the SW, light winds, and weak energy. It’s still a “marginal” call. You can float around, but you won’t be riding much.

Then Wednesday the 26th of August, we get a bump to 4ft to 5ft from the S, but the wind is onshore from the SSE at 9 mph, and the conditions are poor. The energy is moderate (736), but the wind is chewing it up. Not a good one.

Thursday and Friday are still small, with the swell dropping back to 2ft to 4ft, and the wind is a mix of cross-on and cross-off. The energy is moderate, but the surf quality is still marginal. There are a few clean windows, like Monday afternoon and Saturday afternoon from the 29th, with clean cross-off winds, but the swell is still only 3ft and 4ft. It’s surfable, but nothing special.

The real standout is coming later. Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon is the first time I get excited. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 19 seconds, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the WNW at 9 mph. The combined energy is moderate (919), and the guidance says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a window for clean, lined-up waves with that long-period groundswell. The reef at Doheney Beach will handle that well, though the long period might make it a bit straight.

Then Friday the 4th of September morning and afternoon is the real highlight. We’re looking at 4ft to 4ft of SSW swell, with a period of 17 seconds, and the combined energy is strong (1100 to 1143). The wind is light and cross-shore or cross-on, which is manageable. That’s the best on offer in the whole 16-day window. The size is solid but not too big for a good surfer. It’s a proper session.

The following days, Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th, stay in the 4ft to 5ft range, but the wind turns onshore from the S, and the periods drop to 14-15 seconds. The energy is strong (over 1800), but the onshore wind will chop it up. It’s a messy high-energy situation.

By Monday the 7th of September, the swell is 6ft from the S, but with a moderate onshore breeze from the SSE at 16 mph, it’s a messy, windy day. The energy is strong (1560), but the conditions are poor. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a good paddle session.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a grind with small, marginal surf. The standout is clearly Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon through Friday the 4th of September, with clean, long-period groundswell and manageable winds. That’s the window to circle. The crowd factor at Doheney Beach is “often” busy, so expect company, especially when it’s good.

Rusty.

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