San Diego County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Seaside Reef, 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: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-5ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and glassy conditions. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 5s with moderate SSW wind around 8mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 9s with gentle SW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Seaside Reef is a left-dominant reef break in the Cardiff/Solana Beach corridor where local pros like Rob Machado are commonly found in the lineup. WNW to NW swells produce the most consistent, longest rides. Low tide creates the most hollow conditions — the left can suck out on the takeoff at extreme lows. The competitive lineup rewards experience and positioning.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Seaside Reef is 3-4ft with a 16.8s swell period. Wind is WNW at 7mph 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 Seaside Reef is 3-4ft, 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 Seaside Reef is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 15.85s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Seaside Reef works best with a NW 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 Seaside Reef. 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.
Seaside Reef is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Seaside Reef is a left-dominant reef break in the Cardiff/Solana Beach corridor where local pros like Rob Machado are commonly found in the lineup. WNW to NW swells produce the most consistent, longest rides. Low tide creates the most hollow conditions — the left can suck out on the takeoff at extreme lows. The competitive lineup rewards experience and positioning.
The prime season at Seaside Reef 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 Seaside Reef include rock reef bottom, shallow at low tide, competitive crowd, sea urchins. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Seaside Reef 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.
