San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Terra Mar, 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. Expect 2-3ft waves early on WSW swell at 12s.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on SSW swell at 16s with gentle WNW breeze — nothing amazing but surfable.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with gentle SW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
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.
Terra Mar is a accessible sandy beach break in South San Diego County that handles smaller to medium-sized swells with a forgiving, mellow shape perfect for developing surfers. The ENE-facing beach orientation captures southern and southwestern swells during fall and winter months, with consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. This is a popular local spot that offers plenty of room to spread out along the beach, making it ideal for learning in a less intimidating environment than nearby reef breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Terra Mar is 2-3ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is W 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 Terra Mar is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.8ft 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 Terra Mar is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 14.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Terra Mar 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 Terra Mar. 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.
Terra Mar is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Terra Mar is a accessible sandy beach break in South San Diego County that handles smaller to medium-sized swells with a forgiving, mellow shape perfect for developing surfers. The ENE-facing beach orientation captures southern and southwestern swells during fall and winter months, with consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. This is a popular local spot that offers plenty of room to spread out along the beach, making it ideal for learning in a less intimidating environment than nearby reef breaks.
The prime season at Terra Mar 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 Terra Mar include shorebreak, occasional localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Terra Mar 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.
