San Diego County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at San Onofre, 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: 5–7ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-7ft on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 5–7ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-7ft on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Jun 26: 4–6ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-6ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Sat, Jun 27: 4–6ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-5ft and mostly poor - fair with 11mph SE winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 4–6ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-5ft and poor - fair with moderate S wind around 8mph.
San Onofre (Old Man's) is one of the most famous longboarding waves in the world — a mellow cobblestone point break that rolls 200-400 yards offshore, perfect for learning and cruising. The vibe is inclusive and family-friendly: geezers rule, grommets learn. The decommissioned nuclear plant next door (shut down since 2013) adds a surreal backdrop, though spent fuel is still stored on-site.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at San Onofre is 4-6ft with a 16.85s swell period. Wind is WNW at 6mph 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 San Onofre is 4-6ft, produced by a 1.8ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.8ft SSW secondary swell at 14s. 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 Onofre is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 15.95s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
San Onofre 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 Onofre. 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 Onofre is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to beginner surfers. San Onofre (Old Man's) is one of the most famous longboarding waves in the world — a mellow cobblestone point break that rolls 200-400 yards offshore, perfect for learning and cruising. The vibe is inclusive and family-friendly: geezers rule, grommets learn. The decommissioned nuclear plant next door (shut down since 2013) adds a surreal backdrop, though spent fuel is still stored on-site.
The prime season at San Onofre is summer, 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 Onofre include cobblestones exposed at low tide, crowds, long paddle out, decommissioned nuclear facility adjacent. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our San Onofre 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.
