San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 13s with light S winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 8s with 11mph from the SSE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with 8mph SSE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
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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 2-3ft with a 15.25s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph 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 The Rock is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.3ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft 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 The Rock is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 12.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
