Doheney Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.46° N 117.68° W

Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 09 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Doheney Beach sea temperature is
24.1° C
4.5° 

Doheney Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Doheney Beach surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 807 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 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 Monday (Aug 10) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. 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 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 10th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 13th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sat 15th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Doheney Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s cut to the chase—this isn't a week to get your hopes up. The ocean’s going to be pretty sleepy for the next chunk of days. We’re looking at a long, flat stretch ahead, so if you're itchin' for a wave, you're gonna have to be patient. The good news is that there’s a little pulse of energy trying to push through by the end of the first week, and it might just be worth a look.

The first few days, from Sunday the 9th through to around Thursday the 13th, are mostly a write-off. We're talkin' tiny surf, barely breaking, with a lot of cross and cross-onshore breeze messing up what little there is. It's the kind of stuff that has you staring at the ocean wondering if you should’ve just brought a book. The water is warm, though. At Doheney Beach, we're sitting at 75.4°F, which is a solid 8.1°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a big deal, and at least the paddling won’t be a shock.

The energy starts to build a touch on Friday the 14th. Swell bumps up to 2.3ft to 2.6ft from the SSW, with the period stretching out to 18 seconds. The energy reading jumps to 548 and 679, which is a step up from the weak sauce we’ve had, but it's still not big. The winds stay light and cross, so it's not going to be perfect, but the water will be less messy than earlier in the week.

Then we get to the first real standout. Saturday afternoon, the 15th of August. The swell pushes to 3.9ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period. The energy is solid at 749. But the real kicker is the wind. It swings around to the WNW at 9 mph, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. This is the moment. The forecast calls for very good surf conditions, and for once, the stars might align. Doheney’s a reef, so it’ll handle this swell better than a beach break. The wave direction is right on the money for its SSW optimum. It’s not giant, but it’ll be clean, and that’s a huge win after a week of mush. Crowds are often an issue here, so get out there if you can.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a letdown after that Saturday. Sunday the 16th has some similar size in the morning, but the wind gets a bit stronger and cross, and the quality drops. After that, it's a steady decline back into the small, weak territory. We’re back to 1.6ft to 3ft stuff, with mostly cross and cross-on winds. There’s a brief moment on Tuesday the 18th afternoon where a WNW cross-off breeze cleans things up, but the swell is small, only 2.3ft. The period does hang around 16-17 seconds, which is nice, but it’s just not enough push.

The final days, from the 21st all the way to the 24th, are grim. Swell drops to 1.3ft to 2ft, and the energy is weak. The period on the 22nd is long—21 seconds—but with that tiny height, it’s not going to break with any sort of authority. It's a long, quiet end to the outlook.

So here’s the bottom line: Saturday the 15th in the afternoon is your one true standout. It’s not a big-wave day, but it'll be the cleanest and most fun you’ll have all week. The long-period swell is a point in its favor for this reef setup, but keep an eye on it. The rest of the time, you’re better off finding something else to do. The water is unusually warm, which is a nice consolation, but the waves aren't cooperating. Keep the faith, though—this kind of flat spell doesn't usually last forever.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
0
0
2
0
1
2
0
0
2
0
1
3
2
2
3
1
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.5
SW
20
0.5
SW
19
0.5
SSW
13
0.6
SW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.6
SSW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.9
SW
15
0.7
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
18
1.2
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
309
242
236
207
186
184
93
252
316
193
264
261
255
295
340
299
360
807
417
683
604
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
SW
5
SSW
10
WSW
10
SW
5
SSW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
SSW
10
SW
5
S
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
SSW
10
WSW
10
W
10
NW
15
SW
10
WNW
5
W
Wind State
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
8:33AM1.49m
7:04PM2.37m
9:08AM1.60m
7:57PM2.46m
9:42AM1.70m
8:46PM2.49m
10:15AM1.79m
9:33PM2.43m
10:48AM1.87m
10:18PM2.30m
11:21AM1.93m
11:02PM2.09m
11:54AM1.96m
11:47PM1.85m
Low Tide
12:41PM1.16m
2:31AM0.01m
1:42PM1.05m
3:12AM-0.06m
2:35PM0.93m
3:51AM-0.05m
3:24PM0.82m
4:26AM0.03m
4:13PM0.75m
5:00AM0.17m
5:02PM0.72m
5:31AM0.35m
5:53PM0.72m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:43
7:42
7:40
7:39
7:38
7:37
7:37
 mm
Temp °C
23
23
21
23
23
22
23
23
22
22
22
21
21
20
19
20
21
20
21
21
21
Feels °C
24
23
22
24
24
23
24
23
23
24
22
23
21
19
20
20
21
20
21
21
21
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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