San Diego County, California
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with calm winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on W swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 15s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
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 14.25s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph 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 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1.1ft W 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 Cardiff Reef is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
