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Windansea Beach Surf Forecast, San Diego County, California

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San Diego County, California

Right now
Fair
overall conditions
2-3ft
knee to waist high
Onshore·WSW 4–5 mph
Swell1.4ft @ 10s W
TideHigh, rising · high 11:09 AM

Best window·Saturday 6AM9AM·3ft·Fair

Windansea Beach 5-Day Forecast Summary

Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Windansea Beach, 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: 23ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SW swell at 12s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.

Wed, Jul 1: 34ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WSW swell at 8s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.

Thu, Jul 2: 23ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on SW swell at 16s with calm winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.

Fri, Jul 3: 34ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.

Sat, Jul 4: 34ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 15s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.

Daily Forecast

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Windansea Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Reef
Bottom
Rock
Level
Advanced
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
SW
Best Wind
E
Season
Winter

Windansea is one of California's most iconic and historically significant surf spots — a shallow rock reef break in La Jolla producing a long peeling right and a short barreling left. The famous palm-frond surf shack on the beach is a California Historical Landmark. The Windansea Surf Club has a storied reputation for territorial localism dating back decades. Beginners should stay away — the powerful shorebreak hurls riders into shallow rock.

Shallow sharp rock reefExtreme localismPowerful shorebreakSea urchinsHeavy crowds

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

Windansea Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

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What is the current surf forecast for Windansea Beach?

The current wave height at Windansea Beach is 2-3ft with a 14.1s swell period. Wind is WSW at 4mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.

What is the breaking wave height at Windansea Beach?

The current breaking wave height at Windansea Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.4ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.8ft 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.

When is the best time to surf Windansea Beach?

Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Windansea Beach is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.

What swell and wind direction work best at Windansea Beach?

Windansea Beach works best with a SW swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.

What tide is best at Windansea Beach?

Tide plays a big role at Windansea Beach. 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.

What kind of wave is Windansea Beach and who is it for?

Windansea Beach is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Windansea is one of California's most iconic and historically significant surf spots — a shallow rock reef break in La Jolla producing a long peeling right and a short barreling left. The famous palm-frond surf shack on the beach is a California Historical Landmark. The Windansea Surf Club has a storied reputation for territorial localism dating back decades. Beginners should stay away — the powerful shorebreak hurls riders into shallow rock.

When is the best season to surf Windansea Beach?

The prime season at Windansea Beach is winter, 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.

Are there any hazards to know about at Windansea Beach?

Common hazards at Windansea Beach include shallow sharp rock reef, extreme localism, powerful shorebreak, sea urchins, heavy crowds. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.

How accurate is the Windansea Beach surf forecast?

Our Windansea Beach 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.