San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Tamarack, 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 Poor - Fair. 2-3ft waves to start the day on WSW swell at 12s. The WSW wind builds to around 8mph by afternoon.
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 Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and light winds out of the SW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Tamarack is a mellow beach break in San Diego County that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for progression and learning new maneuvers. The sandy bottom and ENE-facing orientation make it a reliable spot during southern hemisphere swells and autumn conditions when westerly winds provide clean offshore support. Its accessible beach setting and moderate crowd levels make it an ideal training ground for surfers looking to develop their skills in a relaxed environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Tamarack is 2-3ft with a 17.6s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph 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 Tamarack is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.5ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1.4ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft 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 Tamarack is Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 17.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Tamarack works best with a SSW swell and NE 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 Tamarack. 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.
Tamarack is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Tamarack is a mellow beach break in San Diego County that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for progression and learning new maneuvers. The sandy bottom and ENE-facing orientation make it a reliable spot during southern hemisphere swells and autumn conditions when westerly winds provide clean offshore support. Its accessible beach setting and moderate crowd levels make it an ideal training ground for surfers looking to develop their skills in a relaxed environment.
The prime season at Tamarack 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 Tamarack include swimmers during summer, occasional localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Tamarack 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.
