Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next 16 days are looking pretty quiet out at Doheney Beach (reef). The swell is hanging around small to tiny for most of the run, and the window of decent conditions is pretty narrow. The water’s running warm – about 72°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the steamer at home.

We kick off this Wednesday afternoon, the 19th of August. It’s nothing special, just 3 ft of SSW swell with a long 16-second period, and a cross-shore wind. The energy’s weak (363), so the waves will be small and a bit gutless. It’s more of a paddle-around than a proper session.

Thursday the 20th through Saturday the 22nd are pretty much a write-off – onshore winds and poor surf conditions. Sunday the 23rd stays marginal, with tiny 1 ft to 2 ft swell and cross-onshore winds. Not worth suiting up for.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th offer a glimmer: clean conditions in the afternoons thanks to a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is still only 2 ft from the SW, with moderate energy (around 300–400). You’ll be scratching for rides, but it’ll be the cleanest of a mediocre bunch.

Wednesday the 26th stays marginal, with 2 ft to 3 ft S/SSW swell and cross-shore winds. Energy picks up a little (434–492), but it’s still very small and weak.

The real standout – and the only time I’d get excited – is from Friday the 28th of August through Sunday the 30th. Swell from the SSW builds to 4 ft–4 ft, period around 15–19 seconds, and energy climbs into the moderate range (580–778). Winds are light and cross-shore or cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean and lined up. This is a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be a bit fat at Doheney’s reef, but there’ll be some proper shaped waves if you’re patient. The Saturday afternoon session on the 29th looks the pick of the whole run: 4 ft SSW, 16-second period, light cross-shore breeze, and the energy is pumping at 778. That’s your best chance for a fun wave.

After that, it fades fast. Monday the 31st into Tuesday the 1st of September is back to onshore winds and poor conditions, with small swell. Wednesday the 2nd is marginal again, and Thursday the 3rd shows a little bump of 4 ft SE swell (energy 627–722), but it’s accompanied by onshore winds, so expect chop.

Bottom line: the first week is mostly a flop. The standout is Saturday the 29th of August – that afternoon session is the best on offer. After that, it’s a long wait with not much to write home about.

Rusty.

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