Swell Intel

Pacific Beach Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

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San Diego County, California

Old Man's at Tourmaline0-1ftMission Beach (San Diego)1-2ftBirdrock1-2ft
Pacific Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
9mph
SW / Gusts 14mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 3sS
Secondary
0.8ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 14sSW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

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

A slow one — 0-1ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the S.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s SSW|5-6mph WSW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Poor

Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 1-2ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s WSW|8-9mph NW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Pacific Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

Pacific Beach is a classic Southern California beach break with a long, sandy bottom that produces forgiving, user-friendly waves perfect for learning and progression. The spot's east-facing exposure captures west and northwest swells effectively, with the sandy substrate creating peeling walls that work across a wide range of conditions. As one of San Diego's most accessible and popular beaches, it offers consistent waves year-round but sees its best shape during fall when Pacific swells arrive with better shape and organization.

Heavy crowdsLocalismSwimmers and beachgoersRip currents during larger swells

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

Pacific Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Pacific Beach?
The current wave height at Pacific Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 9mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Pacific Beach surf forecast?
Our Pacific 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 Pacific Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Pacific Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft S primary swell at 3s, a 0.8ft 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 Pacific Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Pacific Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.