Doran Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on what Doran Beach has to offer.

Right out of the gate, the first week is a bit of a dud. The swell is inconsistent, small, and just doesn't have the juice. The water temp is feeling pretty normal for the season, nothing to note there.

We start on Saturday, August 15th with a measly 3ft SW groundswell. Yeah, the period is a solid 17 seconds, which gets your hopes up, but the energy is weak (614) and the wind is cross-onshore, making a mess of things. Not worth wetting your suit. The afternoon cleans up but the swell drops to 2ft. Sunday and Monday stay tiny with that same SW direction and light winds, but the scores are just flat. The energy is moderate, but the waves are knee-to-waist high and limp.

Tuesday, August 18th afternoon brings a spike to 7ft, but it's a short-period 7 second wind swell from the WNW. The energy jumps up to 699, and the wind is clean cross-off, but that short period means it’ll be choppy and quick. Wednesday the 19th is probably the best early option, with 5ft to 6ft WNW swell and 7 second period. The wind stays clean from the WNW, so it’ll be rideable, but still a bit crumbly and weak.

Thursday the 20th afternoon is a complete washout – 7ft with a 6-second period and 15 mph winds? That’s just a washing machine. The following days hover in the 5ft to 7ft range with 7-8 second periods. It’s consistent, but the wind is often fresh, and the quality is average. You’ll be working hard for nothing.

Now, listen up, because things get serious starting Monday, August 24th afternoon. We’re looking at a solid 8ft NW swell, 8-second period, and the energy is pumping at 940. The wind is a light offshore breeze from the west, making for clean, peeling lines. This is the standout of the whole forecast. This is the one you circle on the calendar.

Tuesday the 25th keeps that swell cooking, with 8ft in the afternoon and the wave energy cranking up to 1141. It’s got power. The wind stays light but goes cross-shore, so expect a bit of texture on the face. Still a very fun, powerful day.

Midweek gets weird. Wednesday the 26th sees a sudden shift to a long period S/SSW groundswell (16-17 seconds) with a ton of energy (1007-1245), but the height is a tame 3ft to 4ft. That long period at a beach break like Doran can mean straight, close-out sections. Not ideal.

Then it gets big. Thursday the 27th afternoon and Friday the 28th see waves jumping to 10ft and 12ft NW swell. The energy numbers are massive – 1802 and 2813. The wind stays clean and offshore from the WNW. This is expert-only water. Anything over 8ft in the water is a whole different animal. If you don’t have the experience, stay on the beach. The morning of Friday the 28th is still a heavy 8ft (1578 energy), but it’s cleaner and more manageable for a strong intermediate. The morning of the 28th is your second-best window.

The last weekend of August is pumping again. Saturday the 29th has 8ft with strong, fresh offshore winds. Too big for most, but the big-wave crew will be out. Sunday the 30th finally backs down to a much friendlier 4ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period and tons of energy (1233), with clean offshore winds. It’s a smooth, mellow end to a heavy couple of days.

So, the skinny: the first week is a no-go. The absolute best is Monday, August 24th afternoon. Your second best is Friday morning, August 28th for the experienced surfers. The swell gets dangerous that last week, so keep your wits about you.

Rusty.

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