Horseshoe Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

Live

San Diego County, California

Windansea Beach1-2ft Birdrock1-2ft Scripps Pier/La Jolla0-1ft

Current Conditions

Poor

Wave Height

1-2ft

ankle to knee high

Swell Period

14.35s

Wind

8mph

S / Gusts 14mph

Conditions

Poor

Active Swells

Primary

1.0ft @ 3sS

Secondary

0.8ft @ 11sSSW

Tertiary

0.7ft @ 14sSW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days

Tue, Mar 311-2ft

Poor

6am9am12pm3pm

Wed, Apr 11-2ft

Poor

Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SSW breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm

10s SSW|6-8mph S

Thu, Apr 23-4ft

Poor

Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 1-2ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 2-3ft and poor - fair.

6am9am12pm3pm

8s WSW|10mph NW

Sat

3ft

Swell building Sat, Apr 4Fair

19s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

Forecast Charts

Horseshoe Surf Spot Guide

Break

Beach

Bottom

Sand

Level

Beginner

Crowd

Moderate

Best Swell

Best Wind

Season

Fall

Horseshoe is a welcoming beach break located in central San Diego County that works best during fall and winter swells when west-facing coastlines receive consistent energy. The sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions for learning surfers, with peeling waves that break across a natural crescent-shaped bay that gives the spot its name. This is an accessible, approachable break perfect for building skills in a relaxed environment.

Localism

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

Horseshoe Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Horseshoe?

The current wave height at Horseshoe is 1-2ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is S at 8mph. Conditions are rated Poor.

How accurate is the Horseshoe surf forecast?

Our Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe?

The current breaking wave height at Horseshoe is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft S primary swell at 3s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Horseshoe?

Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Horseshoe is Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 5ft waves, a 12.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.