San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Imperial 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.
Sun, May 10: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with 9mph WSW winds.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SW swell at 16s with gentle W breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to fair.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and light winds out of the WSW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with light winds out of the WSW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with gentle WNW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Imperial Beach is a mellow, user-friendly beach break located at the southern tip of San Diego County, just north of the Mexican border. The sandy bottom produces forgiving, rolling waves that are ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to practice fundamental skills. This spot picks up consistent swells from the southwest and south, with the added benefit of being sheltered from summer winds, making it a reliable option throughout the year.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Imperial Beach is 3-4ft with a 17.7s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Imperial Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.2ft SW primary swell at 18s, a 0.6ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft WSW wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Imperial Beach is Monday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 15.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Imperial 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.
Tide plays a big role at Imperial 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.
Imperial Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Imperial Beach is a mellow, user-friendly beach break located at the southern tip of San Diego County, just north of the Mexican border. The sandy bottom produces forgiving, rolling waves that are ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to practice fundamental skills. This spot picks up consistent swells from the southwest and south, with the added benefit of being sheltered from summer winds, making it a reliable option throughout the year.
The prime season at Imperial Beach 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 Imperial Beach include rip currents, crowded peak areas, nearby pier pilings. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Imperial 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
