San Diego County, California
Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 11s and light SSW winds.
Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 11s and light SSW winds.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·6-8ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Terra Mar, 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: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 11s with light SSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 18s with light E winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Morning kicks off with 2-3ft on S swell at 13s. Size picks up as the day goes on — 4-5ft by afternoon. Wind increases to 8mph from the WNW.
Sun, Sep 6: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on S swell at 14s with light NNW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 6–8ft, 13s period, rated Good. First light looks cleanest — 6-8ft on SSW swell at 13s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Terra Mar from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Terra Mar is a accessible sandy beach break in South San Diego County that handles smaller to medium-sized swells with a forgiving, mellow shape perfect for developing surfers. The ENE-facing beach orientation captures southern and southwestern swells during fall and winter months, with consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. This is a popular local spot that offers plenty of room to spread out along the beach, making it ideal for learning in a less intimidating environment than nearby reef breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Terra Mar is 2-3ft with a 10.5s swell period. Wind is S at 2mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Terra Mar is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.2ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 2.2ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.3ft 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 Terra Mar is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 12.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Terra Mar 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 Terra Mar. 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.
Terra Mar is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Terra Mar is a accessible sandy beach break in South San Diego County that handles smaller to medium-sized swells with a forgiving, mellow shape perfect for developing surfers. The ENE-facing beach orientation captures southern and southwestern swells during fall and winter months, with consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. This is a popular local spot that offers plenty of room to spread out along the beach, making it ideal for learning in a less intimidating environment than nearby reef breaks.
The prime season at Terra Mar 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 Terra Mar include shorebreak, occasional localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Terra Mar 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).
