San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WSW swell at 11s and light SSE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with 10mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 4-5ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 9mph from the SSE.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 7s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the NW. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
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 15.2s swell period. Wind is SSE at 3mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. 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 1.7ft 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 Pacific Beach is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
