San Diego County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Old Man's at Tourmaline for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with light WSW winds. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on W swell at 5s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 15s with light winds out of the NW. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
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 14.25s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph 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 Old Man's at Tourmaline is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 5s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 2ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
