San Diego County, California
Best window·Friday 7AM–10AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and light S winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 15s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
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 2-4ft with a 14.05s swell period. Wind is SSW at 8mph 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 Onofre is 2-4ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft WSW secondary swell at 5s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
