San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Point Loma, 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: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on W swell at 10s with gentle SSE breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 9s with strong S wind at 14mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 4-5ft and poor - fair with 9mph from the SSE.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on WSW swell at 7s — calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle NW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
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Point Loma (Ralph's) is San Diego's only true point break — a machine-like right-hander at the southern tip of the peninsula, accessible only by boat. The rock reef produces long, peeling walls on SW swells that wrap around the point. The boat-access requirement keeps crowds minimal, making this a prized local secret. Exposed rocks make it unsurfable at low tide.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Point Loma is 2-3ft with a 15.25s swell period. Wind is SSE at 4mph 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 Point Loma is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.8ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 Point Loma is Saturday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Point Loma works best with a SW swell and NW 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 Point Loma. 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.
Point Loma is a point with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Point Loma (Ralph's) is San Diego's only true point break — a machine-like right-hander at the southern tip of the peninsula, accessible only by boat. The rock reef produces long, peeling walls on SW swells that wrap around the point. The boat-access requirement keeps crowds minimal, making this a prized local secret. Exposed rocks make it unsurfable at low tide.
The prime season at Point Loma is winter, 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 Point Loma include boat access only, exposed rocks at low tide, rock reef bottom, strong currents around point. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Point Loma 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.
