San Diego County, California
Solid day on tap with 3-4+ft waves on WNW swell at 5s and 7mph W winds.
Solid day on tap with 3-4+ft waves on WNW swell at 5s and 7mph W winds.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·11-13ft·Very Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 4–5ft, 6s period, rated Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4+ft on WNW swell at 5s with 8mph W winds. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 6–8ft, 18s period, rated Good. Expect 6-8ft waves early on SSW swell at 17s. Wind increases to 13mph from the WNW.
Sat, Sep 5: 7–9ft, 16s period, rated Good. The sweet spot is around midday — 7-9ft waves, light winds out of the NW, very good conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sun, Sep 6: 11–13ft, 14s period, rated Good. Skip the dawn patrol — 9-10ft and good early on. Size picks up through the day, hitting 10-13ft with good conditions by late afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 9–11ft, 13s period, rated Very Good. Looking good out there — 9-11ft all day on SSW swell at 13s with 8mph from the NNW.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Point Loma from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 3-4+ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph. Conditions are rated Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Point Loma is 3-4+ft, produced by a 2.5ft WNW wind swell swell at 6s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SW 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 Point Loma is Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 11ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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. 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).
