Orange County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Steady 3-4ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 18s — 8mph from the WSW.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and light NW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with light S winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with light winds out of the SE. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with light winds out of the SE. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
15s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 2-3+ft with a 17.7s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph and conditions are rated 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 2-3+ft, produced by a 1.5ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1.1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft S tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 14.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
