San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pipes, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. 2-3ft waves to start the day on WSW swell at 12s.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on SSW swell at 16s with light winds out of the WNW.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle WSW breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Pipes is a reef break in Encinitas between Swamis and San Elijo, producing fun, well-shaped waves over a rock bottom. Less crowded and less intense than neighboring Swamis, it offers a good intermediate option for North County surfers. Works on both S and W swells.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pipes is 2-3ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph 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 Pipes is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.8ft 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 Pipes is Sunday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 17.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pipes 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 Pipes. 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.
Pipes is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Pipes is a reef break in Encinitas between Swamis and San Elijo, producing fun, well-shaped waves over a rock bottom. Less crowded and less intense than neighboring Swamis, it offers a good intermediate option for North County surfers. Works on both S and W swells.
The prime season at Pipes 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 Pipes include rock reef bottom, sea urchins, some localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Pipes 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.
