Pipes Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
Current Conditions
Very PoorWave Height
0-1ft
flat to ankle high
Swell Period
14.4s
Wind
10mph
SW / Gusts 15mph
Conditions
Very Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 3sS
Secondary
1.0ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 14sSW
Nearest Webcam
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 310-1ft
Very Poor6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Very PoorPretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light S winds.
6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|6-7mph WNW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
PoorAfternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 1-2ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 2-3ft and fair.
6am9am12pm3pm
4s W|5-9mph NW
Forecast Charts
Pipes Surf Spot Guide
Break
Reef
Bottom
Rock
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SW
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall
Pipes is a reef break in Encinitas between Swamis and San Elijo, producing fun, well-shaped waves over a rock bottom. Less crowded and less intense than neighboring Swamis, it offers a good intermediate option for North County surfers. Works on both S and W swells.
Rock reef bottomSea urchinsSome localism
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Pipes Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Pipes?
The current wave height at Pipes is 0-1ft with a 14.4s swell period. Wind is SW at 10mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.
How accurate is the Pipes surf forecast?
Our Pipes 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 Pipes?
The current breaking wave height at Pipes is 0-1ft, produced by a 1ft S primary swell at 3s, a 1ft 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 Pipes?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Pipes is Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 4ft waves, a 12.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.