San Diego County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Beacons for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Beacons, San Diego 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: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with light SW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 5s with calm winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. 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.
Beacons is a mellow beach break located in San Diego County that offers accessible, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving surface and the ENE-facing beach orientation captures most Pacific swells while remaining protected from westerly winds. This spot works best during fall and winter swells when Southern California sees consistent energy, making it a reliable local favorite for progression and fun sessions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Beacons is 1-2ft 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 Beacons is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1.1ft WSW secondary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft 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 Beacons is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Beacons works best with a SW swell and E 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 Beacons. 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.
Beacons is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Beacons is a mellow beach break located in San Diego County that offers accessible, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving surface and the ENE-facing beach orientation captures most Pacific swells while remaining protected from westerly winds. This spot works best during fall and winter swells when Southern California sees consistent energy, making it a reliable local favorite for progression and fun sessions.
The prime season at Beacons 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.
Every surf spot has its own hazards — rocks, rip currents, crowds, marine life, or changing tides. Before paddling out at Beacons, watch the break for 10–15 minutes, talk to locals when you can, and never surf beyond your ability level.
Our Beacons 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.
