San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pacific 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: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph W winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light WNW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle WSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Wed, May 13: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the SSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light WNW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Pacific Beach is a classic Southern California beach break with a long, sandy bottom that produces forgiving, user-friendly waves perfect for learning and progression. The spot's east-facing exposure captures west and northwest swells effectively, with the sandy substrate creating peeling walls that work across a wide range of conditions. As one of San Diego's most accessible and popular beaches, it offers consistent waves year-round but sees its best shape during fall when Pacific swells arrive with better shape and organization.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pacific Beach is 1-2ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is W 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 Pacific Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 6s, a 1.5ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.7ft 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 Pacific Beach is Monday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 15.55s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pacific Beach works best with a W 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 Pacific 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.
Pacific Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Pacific Beach is a classic Southern California beach break with a long, sandy bottom that produces forgiving, user-friendly waves perfect for learning and progression. The spot's east-facing exposure captures west and northwest swells effectively, with the sandy substrate creating peeling walls that work across a wide range of conditions. As one of San Diego's most accessible and popular beaches, it offers consistent waves year-round but sees its best shape during fall when Pacific swells arrive with better shape and organization.
The prime season at Pacific 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 Pacific Beach include heavy crowds, localism, swimmers and beachgoers, rip currents during larger swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Pacific 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.
