San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ponto, 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 Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 13s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 8s and moderate SSE wind around 11mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with 8mph SSE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 13s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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Ponto is a sandy beach break located in central San Diego County that offers mellow, fun waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The break faces ENE and picks up south swells effectively, creating peaky, forgiving waves that work well throughout the year. The sandy bottom provides a soft landing and natural progression for learning surfers, making it a popular local favorite.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ponto is 3-4ft with a 15.2s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph 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 Ponto is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.4ft 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 Ponto 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.
Ponto works best with a S swell and NE 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 Ponto. 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.
Ponto is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ponto is a sandy beach break located in central San Diego County that offers mellow, fun waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The break faces ENE and picks up south swells effectively, creating peaky, forgiving waves that work well throughout the year. The sandy bottom provides a soft landing and natural progression for learning surfers, making it a popular local favorite.
The prime season at Ponto 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 Ponto include shorebreak at high tide, occasional rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ponto 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.
