Surf Forecasts:
Doheney Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 402 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Doheney Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the local stretch. It’s gonna be a quiet few weeks with one late spike of action. So, bring your patience.
Right now, it’s all about tiny waves. Doheny Beach has ankle-to-knee-high stuff (1ft to 3ft) from the SSW. It’s a beginner-friendly reef, fairly consistent, but with these heights, it’s just enough to paddle around on. The water is a strange 73°F right now, which is way warmer than normal for this time of year. The wind is light, mostly side-offshore or side-onshore, keeping the surface clean. The swell energy is weak, reading between 368 and 454. It’s marginal, but if you have a log and zero expectations, you might find a knee-high glide.
This pattern of small, weak surf continues for days on end. Through the end of August, we’re looking at the same 1ft to 3ft SSW to SW swell. Winds stay light and variable. The energy is low, mostly in the 200s and 300s. It’s a long, flat stretch.
Then, on Saturday, August 29th, things change. The swell finally builds to a real 4ft from the SSW. The energy jumps to over a thousand (1083 on Saturday morning). That’s serious power. The catch? The wind is onshore early on, making a mess of it. But by Saturday afternoon the wind goes side-onshore, cleaning it up. This is your best window. Sunday morning looks good too, with 5ft SSW swell and side-onshore wind keeping it rideable. That’s the punch of the whole 16 days. The period is 16 to 18 seconds, so it’s long-period groundswell with good shape and energy, but it’ll be walled up at a beach break. For a reef like Doheny, that’s a good thing.
So, the standout is the afternoon of August 29th through the morning of August 30th. Decent size, lots of grunt, and a rare window of decent wind. Get out there if you can.
After that, it drops back under 3ft from August 31st onward. Back to the small stuff again.
Stay keen, stay patient. That one window is the only real hope.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
264 | 261 | 232 | 243 | 275 | 377 | 314 | 246 | 239 | 236 | 173 | 139 | 137 | 98 | 90 | 188 | 218 | 127 | 155 | 213 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:39AM1.37m | 1:44PM1.88m | 3:28AM1.21m | 2:36PM1.83m | 3:49PM1.80m | 8:27AM1.36m | 5:08PM1.83m | 8:30AM1.43m | 6:10PM1.91m | 8:44AM1.49m | 6:57PM2.01m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:54PM0.79m | 6:49AM0.96m | 9:19PM0.80m | 7:04AM1.13m | 11:01PM0.75m | 00:21AM0.65m | 10:10AM1.35m | 1:12AM0.53m | 11:58AM1.32m | 1:49AM0.43m | 12:52PM1.24m | 2:20AM0.34m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
264 | 42 | 49 | 52 | 53 | 377 | 314 | 246 | 239 | 236 | 173 | 139 | 137 | 98 | 90 | 188 | 218 | 99 | 135 | 213 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WNW 11 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
64 | 261 | 232 | 243 | 275 | 61 | 41 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 81 | 47 | 39 | 45 | 49 | 31 | 127 | 155 | 199 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 8 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 |
8 | 7 | 114 | 98 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 31 | 57 | 57 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 47 | 81 | 27 | 58 | 12 | 10 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 97 | 0 | 76 | 97 | 0 | 62 | 97 | 0 | 76 | 77 | 2 | 74 | 97 | 0 | 74 | 97 | 6 | 76 | 97 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











