
Surf Forecasts:
Big Rock surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period, SSW swell with 304 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. 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 0.9m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 2PM. 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 (Fri 31st Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Big Rock. I’ll lay it out straight – the next sixteen days are a real test of endurance. It’s a long stretch of tiny, weak surf, and the forecast is brutally consistent in that it’s consistently poor for most of the time. The first bit of swell that’s even worth mentioning doesn’t show up until Friday the 15th of August, and even then, it’s touch and go.
The water temperature is sitting at 75°F, which is 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a real oddity, something you’ll definitely feel.
Starting off, we’ve got a tiny pulse on Friday morning, the 31st of July. The swell is 4ft from the SSW with a nice long 14-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (617). The wind is light and offshore from the W, so it’ll be glassy clean. But the wave comment says it’s marginal, and the scoring tells the story – it’s not worth getting your hopes up. After that, it all goes flat and messy. From Friday afternoon all the way through to Thursday the 14th of August, the swell stays well under 3ft, with most readings between 1ft and 3ft. The periods are consistently long, from 13 to 20 seconds, which for a reef like Big Rock would normally be a great sign, but there’s just no grunt behind it. The combined energy readings hover between 127 and 504, which is weak to moderate. The wind is mostly light and offshore or light cross-onshore, so the conditions are clean, but there’s absolutely no push. It’s a frustrating run of flat, clean, unrideable surf.
Now, the best on offer in this whole window is the morning of Saturday the 15th of August. We finally see a 3ft swell from the SW with a 16-second period. The combined energy is a solid moderate (538), and the wind is light and offshore from the W. That’s the recipe for a clean, lined-up wave. It’s still not big, but it’s the standout. The afternoon of the same day holds similar size and swell direction, though the wind picks up a little to a gentle breeze. It’s still offshore, so it’ll be clean. This is the only real window where you’d want to paddle out. It’s a long way off, over two weeks away, so treat it as a promising one to keep an eye on, but don’t lock your plans in yet.
For the rest of it? Honestly, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup for the most part – small swell, clean but weak energy. The crowds at Big Rock are often present, so on that one decent day, expect a few locals out. If you’re an advanced surfer, the lack of size means you’ll be fighting for nothing. Beginners might be okay on the 15th because the swell is under 5ft, but the long period and reef setup mean it’s probably not the best place for a learner.
So, a long dry spell, then a single, hopeful morning on the 15th. It’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 19°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 21°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
561 | 232 | 189 | 261 | 183 | 142 | 111 | 108 | 130 | 100 | 102 | 72 | 113 | 86 | 167 | 134 | 97 | 155 | 108 | 138 | 113 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:34AM1.30m | 10:41PM1.73m | 12:01PM1.36m | 11:17PM1.58m | 12:30PM1.41m | 11:57PM1.40m | 1:02PM1.47m | 00:49AM1.18m | 1:42PM1.53m | 2:06AM0.96m | 2:32PM1.58m | 4:22AM0.83m | 3:38PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:39PM0.61m | 5:34AM-0.02m | 5:22PM0.59m | 5:59AM0.09m | 6:13PM0.58m | 6:25AM0.24m | 7:15PM0.55m | 6:51AM0.40m | 8:36PM0.51m | 7:21AM0.57m | 10:17PM0.39m | 8:01AM0.72m | 11:49PM0.20m | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SW 13 | W 8 | W 9 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
561 | 232 | 189 | 261 | 183 | 80 | 111 | 41 | 57 | 44 | 39 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 167 | 134 | 97 | 155 | 108 | 138 | 106 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | SSW 11 | S 10 | W 7 | W 8 | SW 13 | W 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | SW 20 | SW 18 |
26 | 153 | 94 | 36 | 45 | 142 | 38 | 108 | 130 | 100 | 100 | 72 | 113 | 86 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 64 | 113 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | S 9 | SW 10 | W 8 | SSW 9 | SW 8 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 9 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 11 | WNW 5 |
30 | 26 | 17 | 40 | 51 | 45 | 30 | 17 | 79 | 68 | 102 | 66 | 53 | 69 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 6 | 60 | 9 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 150 | 18 | 5 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 150 | 18 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











