Surf Forecasts:
Big Rock surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,093 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s 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 (Aug 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 1.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) 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+) | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles. I’m Rusty, and this forecast is a tough one. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak, and messy surf ahead. The wave energy is weak for most of it, barely cracking 300 (combined energy), and the water is sitting at 70°, which is a solid 2° warmer than average for this time of year – feels like summer’s lingering.
The first real pulse doesn’t show up until around the 26th of August. Before that, from Thursday the 20th through Monday the 24th, it’s just not worth it. Swell heights are mostly under 3ft, periods are short, and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, keeping things choppy. That’s a solid 5-day gap with nothing to chase.
Things start to pick up on Wednesday the 26th of August. Big Rock gets a bump, with swell hitting about 4ft in the morning from the SSW. The combined energy jumps to 919, a solid moderate push. The wind is light cross-on, so it’s a little bumpy but rideable. By Thursday afternoon the 27th, that swell eases to about 5ft from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds – that’s a longer period groundswell that will wrap in better at this reef. The wind swings light cross-on with a light breeze, making for cleaner faces. It’s still a bit marginal, and the crowds are often an issue here, so expect lineups.
The second week from the 29th of August onward is a mixed bag. The 30th of August has a clean 3ft swell from the SW with a 15-second period, and the wind is light offshore from the WSW. That’s your best bet for a clean, lined-up wave. The energy is moderate at 536, but the conditions will be glassy. The following week fades back into small stuff, with a few pulses of WNW windswell around the 4th of September, but the period is short and the wind is cross-on.
Honestly, if you’re keen, the 27th of August afternoon and the 30th of August morning are the only real standouts. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Sun morning). 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 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 211 | 211 | 153 | 142 | 116 | 84 | 109 | 217 | 220 | 173 | 154 | 233 | 252 | 137 | 222 | 216 | 236 | 437 | 424 | 805 | 886 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:54PM1.43m | 8:26AM1.03m | 5:14PM1.47m | 8:32AM1.09m | 6:16PM1.55m | 8:46AM1.14m | 7:02PM1.65m | 9:01AM1.19m | 7:40PM1.74m | 9:17AM1.24m | 8:14PM1.81m | 9:35AM1.31m | 8:46PM1.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:25AM0.30m | 10:32AM1.01m | 1:16AM0.18m | 12:09PM0.97m | 1:53AM0.09m | 12:58PM0.88m | 2:23AM0.01m | 1:35PM0.78m | 2:50AM-0.04m | 2:08PM0.68m | 3:14AM-0.07m | 2:40PM0.58m | 3:38AM-0.08m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 7 | SW 15 | W 6 | WNW 7 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | SSW 13 | W 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 211 | 211 | 153 | 142 | 116 | 84 | 48 | 217 | 36 | 62 | 40 | 233 | 38 | 95 | 58 | 73 | 236 | 134 | 424 | 805 | 886 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 12 | WNW 6 | SW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 16 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 38 | 29 | 20 | 29 | 20 | 18 | 51 | 44 | 220 | 114 | 154 | 32 | 252 | 137 | 222 | 216 | 171 | 437 | 79 | 62 | 77 |
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 | W 13 |
| kJ | 57 | 13 | 27 | 82 | 73 | 50 | 109 | 35 | 58 | 173 | 154 | 155 | 120 | 42 | 118 | 141 | 6 | 203 | 416 | 37 | 31 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | — | — | 68 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 204 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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