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. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 6mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor conditions with light SW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with light winds out of the WSW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
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 2ft with a 16.8s swell period. Wind is NW at 7mph 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 Pacific Beach is 2ft, produced by a 2.3ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.9ft W wind swell swell at 4s. 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 9 AM to 12 PM with 2ft waves, a 15.7s 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.
