Northern California
Expect 2-3ft waves early on WNW swell at 8s.
Expect 2-3ft waves early on WNW swell at 8s.
Best window·Saturday 2PM–5PM·5-6ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Doran Beach, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Expect 3-4ft waves early on WNW swell at 8s.
Fri, Sep 4: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Good. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 10s with light WNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to fair - good.
Sat, Sep 5: 6–7ft, 16s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 10s with gentle NE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to fair - good.
Sun, Sep 6: 8–9ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 6-7ft with gentle W breeze. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Mon, Sep 7: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 6s with light winds out of the NE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to fair.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Doran Beach turns Good.
Check Doran Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Doran Beach is a sheltered Northern California beach break tucked inside Bodega Bay, where the southwest-facing shoreline picks up long-period northwest and southwest swells that wrap into the bay and produce mellow, forgiving waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The sandy bottom and typically smaller surf make it one of the more approachable spots on the Northern California coast, offering a gentler introduction to the often powerful swells of the region. Its relative seclusion compared to more well-known Sonoma County breaks means crowds are rarely an issue, making it a pleasant option when nearby exposed breaks are too gnarly.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Doran Beach is 2-3ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is W at 5mph. 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 Doran Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 4ft W primary swell at 8s, a 1.6ft S secondary swell at 12s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Doran Beach is Saturday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 12ft waves, a 15.6s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Doran Beach works best with a SW 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 Doran 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.
Doran Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Doran Beach is a sheltered Northern California beach break tucked inside Bodega Bay, where the southwest-facing shoreline picks up long-period northwest and southwest swells that wrap into the bay and produce mellow, forgiving waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The sandy bottom and typically smaller surf make it one of the more approachable spots on the Northern California coast, offering a gentler introduction to the often powerful swells of the region. Its relative seclusion compared to more well-known Sonoma County breaks means crowds are rarely an issue, making it a pleasant option when nearby exposed breaks are too gnarly.
The prime season at Doran 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 Doran Beach include cold water, rip currents, sharks, strong winds, fog. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Doran 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
