San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at North Del Mar, 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: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 9s with 9mph SSE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WSW swell at 8s with moderate SSE wind around 7mph. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
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North Del Mar is a mellow beach break that works well for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to escape the heavier crowds found elsewhere in San Diego County. The sandy beach face picks up south swells effectively while the easterly offshore winds during mornings provide clean, peeling waves across a wide stretch of coastline. With easy paddling access and forgiving wave shape, this northern section of Del Mar offers a relaxed vibe perfect for progression.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at North Del Mar is 1-2ft with a 14.7s swell period. Wind is SSW at 4mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at North Del Mar is 1-2ft, 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 North Del Mar is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
North Del Mar works best with a S swell and E 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 North Del Mar. 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.
North Del Mar is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. North Del Mar is a mellow beach break that works well for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to escape the heavier crowds found elsewhere in San Diego County. The sandy beach face picks up south swells effectively while the easterly offshore winds during mornings provide clean, peeling waves across a wide stretch of coastline. With easy paddling access and forgiving wave shape, this northern section of Del Mar offers a relaxed vibe perfect for progression.
The prime season at North Del Mar 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 North Del Mar include rip currents, strong shore break during high swell. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our North Del Mar 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.
