San Diego County, California
Best window·Wednesday 9AM–12PM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Tamarack, 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 - Fair. 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 Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Tamarack is a mellow beach break in San Diego County that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for progression and learning new maneuvers. The sandy bottom and ENE-facing orientation make it a reliable spot during southern hemisphere swells and autumn conditions when westerly winds provide clean offshore support. Its accessible beach setting and moderate crowd levels make it an ideal training ground for surfers looking to develop their skills in a relaxed environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Tamarack is 2ft with a 13.8s swell period. Wind is SW at 4mph 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 Tamarack is 2ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 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 Tamarack is Wednesday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 16.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Tamarack works best with a SSW swell and NE 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 Tamarack. 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.
Tamarack is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Tamarack is a mellow beach break in San Diego County that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for progression and learning new maneuvers. The sandy bottom and ENE-facing orientation make it a reliable spot during southern hemisphere swells and autumn conditions when westerly winds provide clean offshore support. Its accessible beach setting and moderate crowd levels make it an ideal training ground for surfers looking to develop their skills in a relaxed environment.
The prime season at Tamarack is fall, 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 Tamarack include swimmers during summer, occasional localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Tamarack 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.
