Swell Intel

Seaside Reef Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

San Diego County, California

George's1-2ftCardiff Reef1-2+ftSolana Beach0-1ft
Seaside Reef surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.4s
Wind
7mph
S / Gusts 14mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 3sS
Secondary
1.0ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 14sSW

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the SW.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|4-8mph SSE
Thu, Apr 23-4ft
Fair

Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with light NE winds. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s SSW|4-7mph NE
Fri, Apr 33-4ft
Fair

Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 6s with light WSW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s W|3-4mph W
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Sun

Forecast Charts

Seaside Reef Surf Spot Guide

Break
Reef
Bottom
Rock
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
NW
Best Wind
E
Season
Winter

Seaside Reef is a left-dominant reef break in the Cardiff/Solana Beach corridor where local pros like Rob Machado are commonly found in the lineup. WNW to NW swells produce the most consistent, longest rides. Low tide creates the most hollow conditions — the left can suck out on the takeoff at extreme lows. The competitive lineup rewards experience and positioning.

Rock reef bottomShallow at low tideCompetitive crowdSea urchins

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

Seaside Reef Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Seaside Reef?
The current wave height at Seaside Reef is 1-2ft with a 14.4s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Seaside Reef surf forecast?
Our Seaside Reef 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Seaside Reef?
The current breaking wave height at Seaside Reef is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft S primary swell at 3s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Seaside Reef?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Seaside Reef is Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 5ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.