San Diego County, California
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on W swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 15s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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 2ft with a 14.05s swell period. Wind is WSW at 6mph and 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 Seaside Reef is 2ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1.1ft WSW secondary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft 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 Seaside Reef is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
