Orange County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Steady 3-4ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 16s — glassy conditions. Expect the wind to bump up to around 5mph by PM.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor with moderate SE wind around 9mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor with 10mph from the SSE.
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 2-4+ft with a 16.85s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph 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 2-4+ft, produced by a 1.8ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.8ft SSW secondary 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.95s swell period, and conditions rated 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.
