San Diego County, California
Best window·Friday 8AM–11AM·4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pacific Beach, 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: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SW swell at 12s and glassy conditions. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WSW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SW swell at 16s and light WNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-5ft waves on W swell at 5s and light winds out of the WNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-5ft on SSW swell at 15s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pacific Beach is 3-4ft with a 14.1s swell period. Wind is W at 5mph 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 Pacific Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.4ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Pacific Beach is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 4ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pacific Beach works best with a W swell and E 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 Pacific Beach. 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.
Pacific Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 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.
The prime season at Pacific Beach 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 Pacific Beach include heavy crowds, localism, swimmers and beachgoers, rip currents during larger swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
