Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, Rusty here, takin' a look at what's cookin' at Doheney Beach for the next couple weeks. Gotta level with ya, it's a slow start, and there's a big gap before anything worth paddlin' out for. The first real recommendation ain't till the 14th of August, so we're lookin' at over a week of flatness. From the 4th through the 13th, it's mostly poor surf, tiny swell, and light cross-onshore winds messin' the surface. The combined energy of all swells is weak, mostly under 200 (145-182), and the swell height is just 1 ft to 2 ft, so it's a whole lotta nothin'. There's a little spike on the 7th and 8th, with swell up to 2 ft to 3 ft and energy hittin' 410 (Friday morning) and 424 (Saturday morning), but the wind is onshore or cross-on, so it's still junk. Those 19-second periods on the 7th are long, but the swell's too small and the wind's sloppy, so it's a no-go.

Come the 14th of August, things start to look a bit better. The swell builds, and by the 15th, we're seein' 3 ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the energy hits 584 (Saturday morning) and 627 (Saturday afternoon). That's moderate energy, and the wind is light cross-on, so it's not perfect, but it's the best we got. The surf is still marginal, but it's a step up. The standout is the 18th of August, Tuesday afternoon. We've got a 2 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and the wind shifts to a light cross-off from the WNW, which is a big win. The combined energy is 280, moderate, and the surf conditions are expected to be good—clean lines. That's the one to circle. The other shout is the 14th of August, Friday afternoon, with 3 ft from the SSW and an 18-second period, and the energy at 644, which is the strongest in the window. The wind is light cross-on, so it's a trade-off, but that long period will give you some nice, well-shaped waves at this reef break, though it might be a bit straight for the beach. Doheney Beach is a reef break, fairly consistent, and it's exposed to the SSW swell, which is what it likes. Crowds are often, so expect some company. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no drama there.

This place is pretty consistent, so a dry spell like this is a bit of a bummer, but forecasts can change. For now, the 18th of August Tuesday afternoon is your best shot, with clean conditions and a decent swell. Don't get too amped for the rest. Rusty out.

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