Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Doheny State Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Doheny State Beach, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 17s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Doheny State Beach in Dana Point is one of Orange County's classic beginner spots, with slow, forgiving waves peeling over cobblestone bottom. The long, mellow shoulders are perfect for longboarding and learning fundamentals. Near the San Juan Creek mouth, a sandbar/reef section picks up stronger swells. Caution: water quality degrades significantly after rain due to San Juan Creek runoff — a well-documented pollution issue that surfers should monitor.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Doheny State Beach is 2ft with a 14.05s swell period. Wind is SSW at 6mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Doheny State Beach is 2ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft WSW secondary swell at 5s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 10s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Doheny State Beach is Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 14.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Doheny State Beach works best with a S swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Doheny State Beach. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Doheny State Beach is a beach with a cobblestone bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Doheny State Beach in Dana Point is one of Orange County's classic beginner spots, with slow, forgiving waves peeling over cobblestone bottom. The long, mellow shoulders are perfect for longboarding and learning fundamentals. Near the San Juan Creek mouth, a sandbar/reef section picks up stronger swells. Caution: water quality degrades significantly after rain due to San Juan Creek runoff — a well-documented pollution issue that surfers should monitor.
The prime season at Doheny State Beach is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Doheny State Beach include cobblestone bottom, water quality after rain, crowds, rocks in sections. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Doheny State Beach forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
