San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Seaside Reef, 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 W swell at 10s with gentle S breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down 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 9s with moderate SSE wind around 9mph. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with 7mph from the SSE. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
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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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Seaside Reef is 2-3ft with a 14.7s swell period. Wind is SSE at 5mph 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 Seaside Reef is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.6ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 1.1ft S tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Seaside Reef is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 12.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Seaside Reef works best with a NW 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 Seaside Reef. 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.
Seaside Reef is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Seaside Reef is winter, 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 Seaside Reef include rock reef bottom, shallow at low tide, competitive crowd, sea urchins. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
