San Diego County, California
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 16s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 5s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
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 2ft with a 14.05s swell period. Wind is WSW at 6mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at North Del Mar is 2ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1.1ft WSW secondary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
