San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 13s with light winds out of the S. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 8s with moderate SSE wind around 10mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, light winds out of the SSW, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on WSW swell at 7s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
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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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at San Elijo State Beach is 2-3ft with a 15.2s swell period. Wind is S 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 San Elijo State Beach is 2-3ft, 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 San Elijo State Beach is Monday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
