San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cardiff Reef, 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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and light winds out of the S. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 8s and 9mph from the SSE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 8s with 7mph SSE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
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Cardiff Reef is a quality reef break located along San Diego's North County coast, offering consistent waves with a distinctive rocky bottom that creates peeling, well-defined A-frames. The reef faces east but works best with southwest swell wrapping around the point, generating medium-sized waves that peel across the shallow structure. This spot attracts a solid mix of locals and visiting surfers who appreciate the reliable conditions and scenic coastal setting.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cardiff Reef is 2-3ft with a 15.2s swell period. Wind is S at 4mph 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 Cardiff Reef is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.4ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 0.7ft SSW 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 Cardiff Reef is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 12.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cardiff Reef 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 Cardiff Reef. 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.
Cardiff Reef is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Cardiff Reef is a quality reef break located along San Diego's North County coast, offering consistent waves with a distinctive rocky bottom that creates peeling, well-defined A-frames. The reef faces east but works best with southwest swell wrapping around the point, generating medium-sized waves that peel across the shallow structure. This spot attracts a solid mix of locals and visiting surfers who appreciate the reliable conditions and scenic coastal setting.
The prime season at Cardiff Reef 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 Cardiff Reef include shallow reef, sharp rocks, sea urchins, strong currents at peak tides. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cardiff Reef 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.
