San Diego County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Birdrock for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Birdrock, 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: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 4mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and gentle WNW breeze. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light winds out of the SSW. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on WNW swell at 6s with light winds out of the SW. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Birdrock is a collection of reef breaks between Pacific Beach and Windansea in La Jolla that only start working at overhead-plus size, requiring a significant paddle to reach. South Bird Rock and North Bird Rock are the main breaks. North Bird can hold shape on the very largest swells — the bigger it gets, the further out it breaks. The kelp bed outside provides natural wind protection.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Birdrock is 1-2ft with a 16.6s 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 Birdrock is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 1ft 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 Birdrock is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 15.6s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Birdrock works best with a SW 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 Birdrock. 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.
Birdrock is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Birdrock is a collection of reef breaks between Pacific Beach and Windansea in La Jolla that only start working at overhead-plus size, requiring a significant paddle to reach. South Bird Rock and North Bird Rock are the main breaks. North Bird can hold shape on the very largest swells — the bigger it gets, the further out it breaks. The kelp bed outside provides natural wind protection.
The prime season at Birdrock 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.
Common hazards at Birdrock include flat rock reef with urchins, long paddle out, needs overhead+ swell, some localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Birdrock 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.
