San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Point Loma, 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 Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 2-3ft waves. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3ft at poor - fair.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 16s — light WNW winds.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle WSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle SSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle WNW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Point Loma (Ralph's) is San Diego's only true point break — a machine-like right-hander at the southern tip of the peninsula, accessible only by boat. The rock reef produces long, peeling walls on SW swells that wrap around the point. The boat-access requirement keeps crowds minimal, making this a prized local secret. Exposed rocks make it unsurfable at low tide.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Point Loma is 2-3ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Point Loma is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.6ft W primary swell at 7s, a 1.6ft 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 Point Loma is Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 17.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Point Loma works best with a SW swell and NW 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 Point Loma. 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.
Point Loma is a point with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Point Loma (Ralph's) is San Diego's only true point break — a machine-like right-hander at the southern tip of the peninsula, accessible only by boat. The rock reef produces long, peeling walls on SW swells that wrap around the point. The boat-access requirement keeps crowds minimal, making this a prized local secret. Exposed rocks make it unsurfable at low tide.
The prime season at Point Loma is winter, 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 Point Loma include boat access only, exposed rocks at low tide, rock reef bottom, strong currents around point. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Point Loma 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.
