San Diego County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with gentle W breeze.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with gentle NNW breeze.
Tue, May 12: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with gentle SSE breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 8mph by PM.
Wed, May 13: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light ESE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Thu, May 14: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light ESE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 0-1ft with a 17.7s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at San Onofre is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.5ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1.1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft S tertiary 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 Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 1ft waves, a 17.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
