San Diego County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Pacific Beach for the cleanest windows.
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft 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. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with light winds out of the WNW. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on W swell at 6s with gentle SW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 6s with light WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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 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 Pacific Beach 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 Pacific Beach is Sunday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.6s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
