San Diego County, California
Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 11mph W winds and poor conditions.
Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 11mph W winds and poor conditions.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·4-5ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with 10mph W winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 17s with gentle ESE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Expect 2-3+ft waves early on S swell at 13s.
Sun, Sep 6: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on S swell at 14s and 7mph NNW winds. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4+ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4+ft with moderate NW wind around 9mph. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Pacific Beach turns Good.
Check Pacific Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is W at 10mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Pacific Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.3ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, a 1ft SSW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 4ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
