San Diego County, California
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 6s and gentle SW breeze.
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 6s and gentle SW breeze.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·3-4ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with light SW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 18s and light E winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on S swell at 14s with light winds out of the NNW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and glassy conditions. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
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 Moonlight turns Good.
Check Moonlight from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is SW 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 Moonlight is 1-2ft, 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 Moonlight is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 12.7s swell period, and conditions rated 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. 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).
