Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Doheney Beach are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a run of small to moderate swell coming in, but the wind and tide are just not playing ball, leaving us with very marginal conditions for the most part. It’s the kind of forecast that makes you want to check your gear and wait for a better day.

Starting this Sunday, the 26th of July, we see a small 3ft SSW swell rolling in with a very long 19-second period. That's proper groundswell energy, but it's being let down by a light cross-onshore breeze. The water's sitting at a notably warm 71°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year. The combined wave energy is moderate at 863, but the overall quality is poor, likely due to the tide not cooperating. It's a beginner-friendly spot, so if you're just starting out, it might be something to look at, but don't get your hopes up for anything special.

Moving into Monday the 27th, the swell ticks up a bit to 4ft from the SSW, still with that long 18-second period. The wind turns directly onshore in the morning at 6 mph, which doesn't help. The combined wave energy jumps up to a strong 1143, but the forecast is still calling it marginal. The afternoon sees a slight drop in size to 4ft as the wind swings cross-onshore. It's more of the same, really – small, onshore, and not worth getting excited about.

Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th look very similar: 4-4ft SSW swell, onshore to cross-onshore winds, and combined energy levels staying in the strong range (970-1335). The period is still long, between 15 and 17 seconds, which is frustrating because the groundswell potential is there, but the wind is just killing any chance of decent shape. It's all marked as marginal, and that's being polite.

The last few days of July, the 30th and 31st, are about the best we're going to see, but it's a relative thing. The swell picks up to 6-6ft from the S with a shorter 14-second period. The combined energy is very strong, hitting a peak of 1366. The wind is still a light cross-onshore at 6 mph, but the forecast improves slightly to a score of 3. Still, it’s labelled as marginal, which tells you the tide or the wind angle isn't quite right. This is about as good as it gets, but it's still not a standout.

Now, heads up for the first day of August (Saturday the 1st): the swell starts to drop back to 5ft in the morning and 4ft in the afternoon, with the period shortening to 12 seconds. The combined energy drops to a moderate 663. The wind remains a light cross-onshore. It's a step down from the end of July, and the score reflects that.

Then comes the big drop-off. From Sunday the 2nd of August right through to the 10th, we are looking at a serious drought of surf. The swell all but disappears, with heights dropping to between 1ft and 3ft for over a week. The combined energy barely gets out of the weak to moderate range (100-533), and almost every session is marked as "poor surf conditions". The wind is often onshore. This is a solid blank run, and for an exposed spot like Doheney, that's not entirely normal, but it can happen. The best you get is a couple of marginal windows around the 7th and 8th, but the swell is just too small to be worth rushing for.

So, what's the verdict? Honestly, there isn't one standout session in this 16-day window. The most "interesting" period would be the last two days of July into the first day of August, but even that is far from ideal. For a beginner spot, the size is manageable, but the onshore winds and marginal quality just don't make it a good call. Honestly, with the stronger swell and cross-onshore wind setting up a bumpy surface, this stretch starting the 30th might be more interesting for a kite surfer than anyone on a paddle board.

Keep your eyes on the charts, though. It tends not to stay poor for long around here. Forecasts can change, and we could see something better pop up. But for now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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