San Diego County, California
Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW.
Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW.
Best window·Sunday 12PM–3PM·4-5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Carlsbad, 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: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SW swell at 9s with light winds out of the SSW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 18s with light ENE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3+ft waves with light winds out of the WNW and fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sun, Sep 6: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on S swell at 14s with light NNW winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Carlsbad turns Good.
Check Carlsbad from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Carlsbad offers accessible sandy beach breaks with mellow, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to progress their skills. The consistent swell exposure and gradual beach bathymetry create forgiving conditions that work across a range of tide levels. This family-friendly stretch of San Diego County coastline provides a welcoming atmosphere with plenty of beach amenities and parking.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Carlsbad is 1-2ft with a 10.5s swell period. Wind is SSW at 4mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Carlsbad is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.2ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 2.2ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.3ft 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 Carlsbad is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 4ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Carlsbad works best with a SSW 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 Carlsbad. 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.
Carlsbad is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Carlsbad offers accessible sandy beach breaks with mellow, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to progress their skills. The consistent swell exposure and gradual beach bathymetry create forgiving conditions that work across a range of tide levels. This family-friendly stretch of San Diego County coastline provides a welcoming atmosphere with plenty of beach amenities and parking.
The prime season at Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad include crowded at peak times, occasional rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Carlsbad 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).
