Swell Intel

The Rock Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

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San Diego County, California

Oceanside1-2ftOceanside Harbor1-2ftCarlsbad1-2ft
The Rock surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
11.35s
Wind
3mph
W / Gusts 5mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 11sSSW
Secondary
0.7ft @ 3sS
Tertiary
0.6ft @ 15sSW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 312-3ft
Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light S winds.

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

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

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|4-11mph WNW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 7mph from the W.

6am9am12pm3pm
4s W|3-7mph SW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

The Rock Surf Spot Guide

Break
Reef
Bottom
Rock
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

The Rock is a rocky reef break situated along San Diego's southern coastline, offering consistent waves with a northeast-facing exposure that captures Southern Hemisphere swells during fall and winter months. The rocky bottom provides defined wave shape and decent hold during larger swells, making it a solid option for intermediate surfers looking to escape the typical beach break crowds. Named for the prominent rock formations that define the break, this spot rewards knowledge of the tidal windows and local geology for the best waves.

RocksShallow reefSea urchinsLocalism

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

The Rock Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for The Rock?
The current wave height at The Rock is 1-2ft with a 11.35s swell period. Wind is W at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the The Rock surf forecast?
Our The Rock 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 The Rock?
The current breaking wave height at The Rock is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft S secondary swell at 3s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 The Rock?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf The Rock is Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.