San Diego County, California
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 6s with light WSW winds.
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 6s with light WSW winds.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·6-7ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 5s with light winds out of the WSW. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 18s and 7mph from the E. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NW and dropping conditions to fair - good.
Sun, Sep 6: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on S swell at 14s with gentle NNW breeze. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on SSW swell at 13s with light winds out of the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Cardiff Reef from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 5.5s swell period. Wind is ENE at 2mph. 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 2.5ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 2.2ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1.3ft SW 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 6ft waves, a 12.6s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
