San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 11s with light winds out of the SSE. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 10mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 9mph from the SSE.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light NW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
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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 2-3ft with a 15.2s swell period. Wind is SSE at 3mph and conditions are rated 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 2-3ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.6ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 14.65s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
