San Diego County, California
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SW swell at 8s with light SE winds.
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SW swell at 8s with light SE winds.
Best window·Sunday 12PM–3PM·6-7ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at San Onofre, 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: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SW swell at 9s with light winds out of the SE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3+ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 18s — gentle E breeze.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Morning kicks off with 3-4ft on S swell at 13s. Expect 8mph W winds by the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-6ft on S swell at 14s with light NW winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–6ft, 13s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 4-6ft waves on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the NW. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when San Onofre turns Good.
Check San Onofre from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
San Onofre (Old Man's) is one of the most famous longboarding waves in the world — a mellow cobblestone point break that rolls 200-400 yards offshore, perfect for learning and cruising. The vibe is inclusive and family-friendly: geezers rule, grommets learn. The decommissioned nuclear plant next door (shut down since 2013) adds a surreal backdrop, though spent fuel is still stored on-site.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at San Onofre is 2-3ft with a 5.6s swell period. Wind is SE at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at San Onofre is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.1ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.9ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1.2ft 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 Onofre is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 6ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
San Onofre 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 Onofre. 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 Onofre is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to beginner surfers. San Onofre (Old Man's) is one of the most famous longboarding waves in the world — a mellow cobblestone point break that rolls 200-400 yards offshore, perfect for learning and cruising. The vibe is inclusive and family-friendly: geezers rule, grommets learn. The decommissioned nuclear plant next door (shut down since 2013) adds a surreal backdrop, though spent fuel is still stored on-site.
The prime season at San Onofre is summer, 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 Onofre include cobblestones exposed at low tide, crowds, long paddle out, decommissioned nuclear facility adjacent. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our San Onofre 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).
