San Diego County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Terra Mar for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle SW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
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 1ft with a 14.05s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Terra Mar is 1ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1.1ft 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 Terra Mar is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
