San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Windansea Beach, 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 Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on WSW swell at 12s with 7mph W winds.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on SSW swell at 16s with light WNW winds — nothing amazing but surfable.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with light winds out of the WSW. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light W winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
15s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Windansea is one of California's most iconic and historically significant surf spots — a shallow rock reef break in La Jolla producing a long peeling right and a short barreling left. The famous palm-frond surf shack on the beach is a California Historical Landmark. The Windansea Surf Club has a storied reputation for territorial localism dating back decades. Beginners should stay away — the powerful shorebreak hurls riders into shallow rock.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Windansea Beach is 2-3ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is W 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 Windansea Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 6s, a 1.5ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, 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 Windansea Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.45s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Windansea Beach 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 Windansea Beach. 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.
Windansea Beach is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Windansea is one of California's most iconic and historically significant surf spots — a shallow rock reef break in La Jolla producing a long peeling right and a short barreling left. The famous palm-frond surf shack on the beach is a California Historical Landmark. The Windansea Surf Club has a storied reputation for territorial localism dating back decades. Beginners should stay away — the powerful shorebreak hurls riders into shallow rock.
The prime season at Windansea Beach 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 Windansea Beach include shallow sharp rock reef, extreme localism, powerful shorebreak, sea urchins, heavy crowds. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Windansea Beach 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.
