Big Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.82° N 117.28° W

Big Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Rock sea temperature is
22.2°C
2.0° 

Big Rock surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Big Rock surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,230 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Rock this week:

The surf forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Big Rock in the next 16 days are 1.8m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 8th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 10th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 7th Sep)6ft (1.8m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Big Rock over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a grim stretch for this spot. We’re looking at a long, slow run of poor conditions. The water’s sitting at 72°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.

The opening day, Saturday the 5th of September afternoon, is a write-off. There’s a cross-onshore breeze messing up a 4ft southerly swell. The combined swell energy is high at 1117, but with that wind, it’s just choppy and ugly. The next couple of days don’t get much better. Sunday the 6th sees a little more size, pushing 6ft from the SSW, but that moderate cross-shore wind is tearing it up. The energy spikes to 1555 on Sunday afternoon, but it's a total mess.

We do get a bit of a breather on Wednesday the 9th of September morning. The wind swings to a light WSW offshore, and there’s a tiny 2ft swell from the SW with a super long 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, but there’s barely any push behind it – the energy is only 384. It’s marginal at best, and the lack of size means it’s really only for a longboard with no expectations. The long period will make the waves a bit tricky and walled-up at a reef like this, and only for the skilled.

The rest of that week and into the second week is just more of the same: small, weak, and mostly cross-onshore winds. There’s a brief flicker on Monday the 14th of September morning with a 4ft westerly swell and an offshore wind, but the period is a short 8 seconds and the energy is only 400. It’s still rated as poor. By Saturday the 19th of September morning, we see a bit more size bumping up to 5ft from the west with an offshore breeze, and the energy is 637. That’s the best-looking window in the whole 16 days, but it’s a long way out and the wind forecast is still uncertain. For now, it’s a promise, not a guarantee.

Look, if you're desperate, that Wednesday the 9th morning and that distant Saturday the 19th morning are the only real windows. Big Rock is a reef that needs a clean swell to shine, and we just aren’t getting that. For most of this run, it's more of a kiteboarding setup than a paddle session.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
0
2
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
S
13
1.6
SSW
14
1.8
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
14
1.8
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
12
1.4
SW
11
1.3
SSW
11
1.1
SW
10
0.6
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
600
989
1110
965
1230
996
900
680
512
382
229
214
267
342
437
416
411
395
360
255
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
15
NNW
20
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
10
NW
15
NW
15
NW
10
WNW
5
WSW
10
SW
5
SW
10
SW
10
SSW
15
S
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
S
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
4:44PM1.68m
7:45AM1.14m
6:01PM1.78m
8:11AM1.26m
7:02PM1.88m
8:37AM1.37m
7:53PM1.94m
9:05AM1.48m
8:38PM1.92m
9:32AM1.58m
9:21PM1.84m
10:00AM1.66m
10:03PM1.71m
Low Tide
00:42AM-0.03m
11:47AM0.90m
1:30AM-0.14m
12:54PM0.73m
2:10AM-0.20m
1:46PM0.55m
2:45AM-0.20m
2:32PM0.40m
3:17AM-0.14m
3:15PM0.27m
3:47AM-0.04m
3:58PM0.20m
4:15AM0.11m
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:26
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:08
7:07
7:06
7:05
7:02
7:01
7:00
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
24
24
24
28
25
25
25
24
26
26
26
27
25
24
24
24
22
23
23
22
Feels °C
23
23
22
27
24
25
24
23
25
24
26
27
24
26
26
24
23
22
21
22
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Big Rock Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Big Rock provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Rock can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Rock 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 (Big Rock) 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 Big Rock 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.

Big Rock is 11 km (7 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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