San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 13s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 8s with 11mph SSE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with 8mph from the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
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 2-3ft with a 15.25s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph 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 Carlsbad is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.3ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 12.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
