San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Moonlight, 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 Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on W swell at 10s with gentle S breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 9s with 9mph SSE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with 8mph from the SSE. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - 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 - fair.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 13s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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Moonlight Beach in Encinitas offers mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progressing as a surfer. The eastward-facing break catches Southern Hemisphere swell best during fall months, producing consistent, rolling waves that peel across the sandy bottom. Protected by the town's pier and rocky breakwater to the south, this spot provides a scenic setting with easy beach access and nearby amenities.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Moonlight is 3-4ft with a 14.7s swell period. Wind is SSE at 5mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Moonlight is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.6ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 1.1ft S tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Moonlight is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 12.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Moonlight 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 Moonlight. 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.
Moonlight is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Moonlight Beach in Encinitas offers mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progressing as a surfer. The eastward-facing break catches Southern Hemisphere swell best during fall months, producing consistent, rolling waves that peel across the sandy bottom. Protected by the town's pier and rocky breakwater to the south, this spot provides a scenic setting with easy beach access and nearby amenities.
The prime season at Moonlight 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 Moonlight include pier pilings, rocks near southern end, occasional rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Moonlight 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.
