San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Sunset Cliffs, 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: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 10s and gentle SSE breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and very poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — Flat waves and very poor conditions with 11mph S winds.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 0-1ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 2-3ft and poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with glassy conditions. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the NW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
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Sunset Cliffs is a collection of exposed reef breaks scattered along Point Loma's dramatic sandstone cliff face, including named breaks like Ab's Reef, Pescadero, and Luscomb's. Access requires navigating cliff trails and long paddle-outs through kelp. The west-facing exposure picks up W and NW winter swells directly, and the thick offshore kelp bed naturally smooths wind chop. Low tide produces faster, hollower, more demanding waves.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Sunset Cliffs is 2-3ft with a 15.25s swell period. Wind is SSE at 4mph 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 Sunset Cliffs is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.8ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 Sunset Cliffs is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.25s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Sunset Cliffs works best with a W 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 Sunset Cliffs. 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.
Sunset Cliffs is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Sunset Cliffs is a collection of exposed reef breaks scattered along Point Loma's dramatic sandstone cliff face, including named breaks like Ab's Reef, Pescadero, and Luscomb's. Access requires navigating cliff trails and long paddle-outs through kelp. The west-facing exposure picks up W and NW winter swells directly, and the thick offshore kelp bed naturally smooths wind chop. Low tide produces faster, hollower, more demanding waves.
The prime season at Sunset Cliffs 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 Sunset Cliffs include sharp limestone reef with urchins, cliff access — eroding sandstone, long paddle-outs through kelp, rocks at entry/exit, isolated breaks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Sunset Cliffs 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.
