San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and gentle S breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 8s with 9mph from the SSE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WSW swell at 8s and 8mph SSE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
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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 2-3ft with a 15.2s swell period. Wind is SSW 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 Tamarack is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.4ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 8 AM to 11 AM with 5ft waves, a 12.65s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
