San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 8s with 9mph from the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with 8mph from the SSE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
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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 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 Terra Mar 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 Terra Mar is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 12.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
