Swell Intel

Cardiff Reef Surf Forecast

San Diego County, California

Cardiff Reef surf spot

Current Conditions

Fair
Wave Height
2-3ft
knee to waist high
Swell Period
15.7s
Wind
3mph
NE / Gusts 4mph
Conditions
Fair
Active Swells
Primary
1.2ft @ 16sSW
Secondary
0.7ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.5ft @ 3sW

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Nearest Webcam

Spot Guide

Break
Reef
Bottom
Reef
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

Shallow reefSharp rocksSea urchinsStrong currents at peak tides

Forecast Charts

Daily Forecast

Thu, Mar 26Fair

Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SW swell at 16s and barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
16s SW|Calm
Fri, Mar 27Poor

First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s W|Calm
Sat, Mar 28Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
14s SSW|Calm
Sun, Mar 29Fair

Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on W swell at 4s with barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
5s W|Calm
Mon, Mar 30Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|Calm

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Cardiff Reef Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Cardiff Reef?
The current wave height at Cardiff Reef is 2-3ft with a 15.7s swell period. Wind is NE at 3mph. Conditions are rated Fair.
How accurate is the Cardiff Reef surf forecast?
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.