Surf Forecasts:
Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, SSW swell with 785 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach in the next 16 days are 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk surf for the coming days.
Water temp is about 70°, running a degree warmer than usual for this time of year—nothing wild, just a little extra warmth.
We’re working with Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach. The start is dead quiet. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st have tiny SW swell around 2ft, but it’s mostly cross-on or onshore wind, so it’s small and junky. Not worth a paddle. Saturday and Sunday stay small—waist-high lumps with light cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy is low, mostly in the 200–300 range. Nothing happening.
The flat spell drags into next week. Monday the 24th through Tuesday the 25th still tiny, swell hanging around 2ft to 3ft. The direction is SW, which is good for this spot, but the size is just not there. Wind stays light and cross-on, so it’s clean but surf is barely breaking. Energy does climb into the 400s by Tuesday afternoon, but still not enough for a proper session.
Wednesday the 26th morning finally delivers. Swell comes up to 4ft from the SSW, period around 13 seconds, with light offshore wind. Combined energy jumps to 919 (moderate). That’s the cleanest, most rideable window of the whole outlook. By afternoon, it’s pushing 5ft from the same direction, still light offshore. That’s your standout: chest-high, clean, with some push. The period is moderate so the waves will hold shape well.
Thursday the 27th keeps swell in the 4ft to 5ft range, but the wind swings cross-on and gets moderate, making it choppy. Not great. Friday the 28th morning has another chance—swell 5ft from SW, period 13 seconds, light offshore. Combined energy around 869. Decent, but not as clean as Wednesday.
The weekend of the 29th and 30th drops back to 3ft or so, with cross-on winds returning. Energy is in the 500s to 800s, but quality is marginal. After that, it’s small and clean but weak into early September. The best of the second week is Wednesday the 4th morning, with 5ft from the WNW and light offshore, but the period is short at 10 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly.
The real standout is Wednesday morning the 26th of August. That’s your call: clean, chest-high SSW swell at Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach. Get out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun morning, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 211 | 211 | 153 | 142 | 116 | 84 | 109 | 217 | 220 | 173 | 154 | 233 | 252 | 137 | 222 | 216 | 206 | 356 | 418 | 569 | 322 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:52PM1.44m | 8:21AM1.03m | 5:13PM1.48m | 8:29AM1.11m | 6:17PM1.56m | 8:41AM1.17m | 7:04PM1.67m | 8:55AM1.23m | 7:42PM1.77m | 9:11AM1.29m | 8:17PM1.85m | 9:29AM1.36m | 8:49PM1.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:38AM0.31m | 10:47AM1.01m | 1:32AM0.20m | 12:26PM0.96m | 2:09AM0.09m | 1:18PM0.87m | 2:39AM0.01m | 1:55PM0.76m | 3:05AM-0.05m | 2:28PM0.65m | 3:31AM-0.09m | 3:01PM0.55m | 3:55AM-0.10m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | W 7 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | SSW 13 | W 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 211 | 211 | 153 | 142 | 116 | 84 | 33 | 217 | 220 | 62 | 43 | 233 | 39 | 95 | 58 | 75 | 184 | 110 | 418 | 569 | 322 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | SW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 |
| kJ | 38 | 29 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 51 | 41 | 36 | 114 | 154 | 33 | 252 | 137 | 222 | 216 | 206 | 356 | 127 | 82 | 92 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | W 13 | WNW 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | WSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 14 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 57 | 13 | 27 | 82 | 73 | 50 | 109 | 35 | 94 | 173 | 154 | 155 | 120 | 42 | 101 | 99 | 6 | 203 | 245 | 37 | 262 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 53 | — | — | 77 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach is 9 km (6 miles) from San Diego. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Diego. San Diego has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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