Doran Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Doran Beach over the next couple of weeks. The skinny is we’ve got a couple of proper windows for the experienced crew, but the rest of the run is pretty marginal and calls for patience.

The first real action kicks off Saturday afternoon, August 1st. We’re looking at a solid 10ft swell out of the WNW, which is a lot of water moving around – the combined energy is really pumping at 1393. The water temp is sitting at 56°F, which is basically normal for this time of year, so no surprises on that front. The wind is a fresh cross-offshore breeze, so the surface will be clean. But fair warning: that size is going to be too much for beginners; this is strictly for the experienced surfers who know what they’re doing at a beach break.

Sunday morning, August 2nd, drops back to a still-chunky 7ft from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds and a light cross-off wind. The energy is still solid at 1024. This is the standout of the whole outlook. The conditions are excellent for experienced surfers, and with lighter wind, the waves will be holding their shape well. The break is inconsistent, so you might be waiting a bit between sets, but when they come, it’ll be worth it. Just be aware that crowds are possible here, so keep your eyes open.

Sunday afternoon sees the swell nudge up again to 8ft from the NW, but the wind picks up to a moderate cross-off. It’s still clean, but the tide conditions start looking iffy, making it a bit more of a gamble than the morning session.

From Monday, August 3rd, all the way through to Thursday, August 6th, it’s a slow descent into smaller, weaker surf. Swell sizes drop from 6ft down to 2ft with energy levels falling into the low hundreds. Winds are light but generally onshore or cross-shore, creating a bit of texture on the surface. This is a quiet stretch where it’s just not worth paddling out – the wave quality is poor or marginal at best, and the energy isn’t there for a proper ride.

We get a brief spike of long-period energy on Friday, August 7th, but it’s only 1–2ft swell with periods of 18 and 19 seconds. While the period is long, the size is tiny, so it’s a non-event for riding.

After a lull, the surf starts to build again toward the second week. Sunday, August 9th, brings a 8ft NW swell in the morning with energy jumping back up to 1859. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it won’t be glassy, but there’s enough power there for the experts. That trend continues into Monday and Tuesday, August 10th and 11th, with 7–8ft NW swell, clean conditions in the afternoons with a cross-off breeze, and energy in the 1100–1250 range. This is another promising run for experienced surfers, though again, it’s inconsistent, so patience is key.

The surf then winds down again. By Thursday and Friday, August 13th and 14th, we’re back to small, weak swell – 2ft with very long periods of 15 seconds. The beach break setup will make those long-period swells break a bit straight and mushy. By the following weekend, August 15th and 16th, the swell is still under 3ft with long periods from the SW, and energy stays in the 500–700 range. Nice to look at, but not much to ride.

So to sum it up: Sunday morning, August 2nd is your best bet for clean, punchy waves for the experienced surfer. The following Sunday through Tuesday, August 9th–11th, is another solid option for the same crew, but the consistency isn’t great. For the rest of us, it’s a waiting game. Forecasts can always change though, so don’t write off the whole window.

Rusty.

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