San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ocean beach, 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 Fair - Good. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 10s with light winds out of the SSE. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 9s and moderate S wind around 11mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 9s with moderate SSE wind around 9mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 14s 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 10mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 13s and light winds out of the NW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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Ocean Beach is a long, sandy stretch in San Diego that offers consistent, mellow waves perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers learning to dial in their technique. The beach break produces forgiving, rolling peaks across a wide lineup, with multiple peaks allowing the crowd to spread out despite its popularity. This iconic local favorite provides predictable conditions and a vibrant beach culture that makes it an essential San Diego experience.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ocean beach is 3-4ft with a 15.25s swell period. Wind is SSE at 4mph 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 Ocean beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.8ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 Ocean beach is Saturday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 15s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ocean beach 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 Ocean beach. 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.
Ocean beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ocean Beach is a long, sandy stretch in San Diego that offers consistent, mellow waves perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers learning to dial in their technique. The beach break produces forgiving, rolling peaks across a wide lineup, with multiple peaks allowing the crowd to spread out despite its popularity. This iconic local favorite provides predictable conditions and a vibrant beach culture that makes it an essential San Diego experience.
The prime season at Ocean beach 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 Ocean beach include heavy crowds, localism, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ocean beach 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.
