San Diego County, California
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 6s with 10mph from the W.
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 6s with 10mph from the W.
Best window·Sunday 12PM–3PM·4-5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Old Man's at Tourmaline, 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. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with 9mph from the W. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and gentle SE breeze. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. 2-3ft waves to start the day on S swell at 13s.
Sun, Sep 6: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on S swell at 14s with gentle NNW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to fair - good.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with 7mph NW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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 Old Man's at Tourmaline turns Good.
Check Old Man's at Tourmaline from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Old Man's at Tourmaline is one of San Diego's most accessible and beginner-friendly beach breaks, located in the sheltered Pacific Beach area where consistent waves roll onto a sandy bottom. The spot's east-northeast facing aspect means it picks up south to southwest swell most effectively, with the best conditions arriving during fall and winter swells when the water is still warm from summer heat. Named for its reputation as a perfect introduction to surfing, this break attracts beginners, families, and older surfers looking for mellow, forgiving waves in a vibrant beach community atmosphere.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Old Man's at Tourmaline is 1-2ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Old Man's at Tourmaline is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.3ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, a 1ft SSW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Old Man's at Tourmaline is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 4ft waves, a 13.6s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Old Man's at Tourmaline 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 Old Man's at Tourmaline. 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.
Old Man's at Tourmaline is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Old Man's at Tourmaline is one of San Diego's most accessible and beginner-friendly beach breaks, located in the sheltered Pacific Beach area where consistent waves roll onto a sandy bottom. The spot's east-northeast facing aspect means it picks up south to southwest swell most effectively, with the best conditions arriving during fall and winter swells when the water is still warm from summer heat. Named for its reputation as a perfect introduction to surfing, this break attracts beginners, families, and older surfers looking for mellow, forgiving waves in a vibrant beach community atmosphere.
The prime season at Old Man's at Tourmaline 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 Old Man's at Tourmaline include heavy crowds, swimmers, rip currents on larger swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Old Man's at Tourmaline 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).
