San Elijo State Beach Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

San Diego County, California

Right nowPoorlive wind
1-2ft

Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 6s with light WSW winds.

Swell
2.3ft
6s · W
Wind
6mph
WSW · Onshore
Water
74°F
Springsuit or none
Tide
Mid
rising · high 1:52 PM
Surf: nearshore model · 10 AM localWind: observation · 5 min oldTide: forecast

Best window·Sunday 6AM9AM·3-4ft·Good

Registered at the buoy
Swell2.6ft @ 6s W
Groundswell2.1ft @ 11s SW
Steepness: average

San Elijo State Beach 5-Day Forecast Summary

Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at San Elijo State 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: 12ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 5s with light WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.

Fri, Sep 4: 12ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and moderate E wind around 7mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.

Sat, Sep 5: 23ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the N. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.

Sun, Sep 6: 34ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on S swell at 14s with gentle NNW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.

Mon, Sep 7: 34ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 13s with light winds out of the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.

Daily Forecast

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Hourly Forecast

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Forecasts here are checked against NOAA buoy San Clemente Basin (46086) 92 km away. Predictions are being recorded before each swell arrives; the predicted-vs-measured record publishes openly around September 9.How it works

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San Elijo State Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SW
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

San Elijo State Beach offers mellow beach breaks along the campground bluffs in Cardiff, with sandy bottom peaks that are forgiving for learners. Sandwiched between the reef breaks at Seaside and Cardiff Reef, this stretch catches S and SW swells and provides a less intimidating option for developing surfers.

Occasional rip currentsRocky patches at reef transitions

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

San Elijo State Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

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What is the current surf forecast for San Elijo State Beach?

The current wave height at San Elijo State Beach is 1-2ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is WSW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.

What is the breaking wave height at San Elijo State Beach?

The current breaking wave height at San Elijo State Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.3ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 2.1ft 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.

When is the best time to surf San Elijo State Beach?

Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf San Elijo State Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 14s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.

What swell and wind direction work best at San Elijo State Beach?

San Elijo State Beach works best with a SW 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.

What tide is best at San Elijo State Beach?

Tide plays a big role at San Elijo State 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.

What kind of wave is San Elijo State Beach and who is it for?

San Elijo State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. San Elijo State Beach offers mellow beach breaks along the campground bluffs in Cardiff, with sandy bottom peaks that are forgiving for learners. Sandwiched between the reef breaks at Seaside and Cardiff Reef, this stretch catches S and SW swells and provides a less intimidating option for developing surfers.

When is the best season to surf San Elijo State Beach?

The prime season at San Elijo State 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.

Are there any hazards to know about at San Elijo State Beach?

Common hazards at San Elijo State Beach include occasional rip currents, rocky patches at reef transitions. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.

How accurate is the San Elijo State Beach surf forecast?

Our San Elijo State 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).