San Diego County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Beacons for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Beacons, 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.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 4mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with light NW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor with 9mph SSW winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on W swell at 6s with moderate SSW wind around 8mph. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor by then.
Beacons is a mellow beach break located in San Diego County that offers accessible, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving surface and the ENE-facing beach orientation captures most Pacific swells while remaining protected from westerly winds. This spot works best during fall and winter swells when Southern California sees consistent energy, making it a reliable local favorite for progression and fun sessions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Beacons is 2ft with a 16.65s swell period. Wind is WNW at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Beacons is 2ft, produced by a 1.8ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft W wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Beacons is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 15.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Beacons 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.
Tide plays a big role at Beacons. 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.
Beacons is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Beacons is a mellow beach break located in San Diego County that offers accessible, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving surface and the ENE-facing beach orientation captures most Pacific swells while remaining protected from westerly winds. This spot works best during fall and winter swells when Southern California sees consistent energy, making it a reliable local favorite for progression and fun sessions.
The prime season at Beacons 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.
Every surf spot has its own hazards — rocks, rip currents, crowds, marine life, or changing tides. Before paddling out at Beacons, watch the break for 10–15 minutes, talk to locals when you can, and never surf beyond your ability level.
Our Beacons 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.
