San Diego County, California
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light S winds.
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light S winds.
Best window·Sunday 12PM–3PM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at The Rock, 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, 6s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 5s with light S winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and very poor by then.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 18s with gentle ENE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3+ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on S swell at 13s and gentle NNE breeze. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on S swell at 14s with gentle NNW breeze. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 13s with light NW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when The Rock turns Good.
Check The Rock from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at The Rock is 1-2ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at The Rock is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.5ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 2.2ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1.3ft SW 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 The Rock is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 3ft waves, a 13.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
The Rock 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 The Rock. 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.
The Rock is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at The Rock 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 The Rock include rocks, shallow reef, sea urchins, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. 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).
