San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cardiff Reef, 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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 9mph W winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the WNW.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the WSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Cardiff Reef is a quality reef break located along San Diego's North County coast, offering consistent waves with a distinctive rocky bottom that creates peeling, well-defined A-frames. The reef faces east but works best with southwest swell wrapping around the point, generating medium-sized waves that peel across the shallow structure. This spot attracts a solid mix of locals and visiting surfers who appreciate the reliable conditions and scenic coastal setting.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cardiff Reef is 1-2ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph 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 Cardiff Reef is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Cardiff Reef is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 16.45s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cardiff Reef 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 Cardiff Reef. 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.
Cardiff Reef is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Cardiff Reef is a quality reef break located along San Diego's North County coast, offering consistent waves with a distinctive rocky bottom that creates peeling, well-defined A-frames. The reef faces east but works best with southwest swell wrapping around the point, generating medium-sized waves that peel across the shallow structure. This spot attracts a solid mix of locals and visiting surfers who appreciate the reliable conditions and scenic coastal setting.
The prime season at Cardiff Reef 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 Cardiff Reef include shallow reef, sharp rocks, sea urchins, strong currents at peak tides. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cardiff Reef 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.
