Swell Intel

Ocean beach Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

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San Diego County, California

Mission Beach (San Diego)1-2ftSunset Cliffs0-1ftPacific Beach1-2ft

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
10mph
SW / Gusts 15mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 3sS
Secondary
0.7ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 14sSW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle SW breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|5-7mph SW
Thu, Apr 23-4ft
Poor

The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 8mph from the NW, fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SW|8-11mph NW
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Sat
4ft
Swell building Fri, Apr 3Fair

8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Ocean beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

Heavy crowdsLocalismRip currents

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Ocean beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Ocean beach?
The current wave height at Ocean beach is 1-2ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 10mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Ocean beach surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Ocean beach?
The current breaking wave height at Ocean beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft S primary swell at 3s, a 0.7ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Ocean beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Ocean beach is Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 4ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.