Swell Intel

Cardiff Reef Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

San Diego County, California

George's1-2ftSan Elijo State Beach0-1ftPipes0-1ft
Cardiff Reef surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.5s
Wind
8mph
SW / Gusts 12mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 11sSSW
Secondary
0.6ft @ 15sSW
Tertiary
0.3ft @ 12sWNW
Wind Swell
0.9ft @ 3sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle SSW breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s S|6-9mph W
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Fair

Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with light WNW winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.

6am9am12pm3pm
6s WSW|5-9mph WNW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Cardiff Reef Surf Spot Guide

Break
Reef
Bottom
Reef
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

Shallow reefSharp rocksSea urchinsStrong currents at peak tides

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Cardiff Reef Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Cardiff Reef?
The current wave height at Cardiff Reef is 1-2ft with a 14.5s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Cardiff Reef surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Cardiff Reef?
The current breaking wave height at Cardiff Reef is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 0.6ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.3ft WNW tertiary swell at 12s, a 0.9ft S wind swell swell at 3s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Cardiff Reef?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Cardiff Reef is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.