Swell Intel

Terra Mar Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

San Diego County, California

Tamarack1-2ftCarlsbad1-2ftPonto1-2ft
Terra Mar surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.5s
Wind
4mph
W / Gusts 5mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 11sSSW
Secondary
0.6ft @ 15sSW
Tertiary
0.3ft @ 12sWNW
Wind Swell
0.9ft @ 3sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor

Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the S.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|5mph S
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle S breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s S|4-10mph WNW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Fair

Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with light winds out of the WSW and fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.

6am9am12pm3pm
6s WSW|4-7mph WSW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Terra Mar Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

ShorebreakOccasional localism

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Terra Mar Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Terra Mar?
The current wave height at Terra Mar is 1-2ft with a 14.5s swell period. Wind is W at 4mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Terra Mar surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Terra Mar?
The current breaking wave height at Terra Mar is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 0.6ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.3ft WNW tertiary swell at 12s, a 0.9ft S wind swell swell at 3s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Terra Mar?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Terra Mar is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.