San Diego County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at San Elijo State Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at San Elijo State 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: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, barely a breath of wind, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 5s and 8mph SSW winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on WSW swell at 9s and gentle SW breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
San Elijo State Beach offers mellow beach breaks along the campground bluffs in Cardiff, with sandy bottom peaks that are forgiving for learners. Sandwiched between the reef breaks at Seaside and Cardiff Reef, this stretch catches S and SW swells and provides a less intimidating option for developing surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at San Elijo State Beach is 2-3+ft with a 16.8s swell period. Wind is WNW 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 San Elijo State Beach is 2-3+ft, produced by a 2.4ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.8ft 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 San Elijo State Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.85s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
San Elijo State Beach 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 San Elijo State 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.
San Elijo State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. San Elijo State Beach offers mellow beach breaks along the campground bluffs in Cardiff, with sandy bottom peaks that are forgiving for learners. Sandwiched between the reef breaks at Seaside and Cardiff Reef, this stretch catches S and SW swells and provides a less intimidating option for developing surfers.
The prime season at San Elijo State 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 San Elijo State Beach include occasional rip currents, rocky patches at reef transitions. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our San Elijo State 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.
