San Diego County, California
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 9mph from the WSW and poor conditions.
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 9mph from the WSW and poor conditions.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·4-5ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 8mph WSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 18s with light ENE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 13s with light N winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Good. Fun day ahead — expect 3-4ft waves on S swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on SSW swell at 13s with light NW winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Tamarack turns Good.
Check Tamarack from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 10.4s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Tamarack is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.2ft SSW primary swell at 10s, a 2.1ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 12.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
