Surf Forecasts:
Big Rock surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, SSW swell with 881 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period with S 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s. 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 1.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about the next 16 days at Big Rock. Honestly, there’s nothing worth paddling out for from July 17 through August 1. The whole stretch is poor to marginal – small swell, wind mostly cross-onshore or onshore. The water’s running 72°F, which is about 5.4°F warmer than normal – feels like a hot tub, but it doesn’t help the waves.
Big Rock is a reef that needs a solid W swell to really work, but we’re stuck with SW and SSW swells the whole time. The combined energy does get into the moderate range – sometimes over 1000 (like 1074 on the 24th morning, 1120 on the 25th morning, 1283 on the 27th morning) – but that energy is wasted by onshore wind and wrong direction. Swell periods are long, often 12‑19 seconds, which would normally mean real groundswell, but with the wind blowing from the wrong side, it’s just lumpy and messy. No offshore wind at all – the best wind is from the E, but we’ve got W, WSW, and NW breezes all the way through.
The only days that come close are the 31st of July morning with 5.9ft from SSW, 14 seconds, and a light onshore breeze from WSW at 6 mph, and the 27th morning with 3.9ft from SW, 18 seconds, light onshore from W. Even then, the wave comment is “marginal” at best. Crowds aren’t a worry because nobody’s surfing – but be aware, Big Rock often gets busy, so that’s a silver lining of this lull. For advanced surfers only, and with the size staying under 5ft on most days, it’s not
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | WSW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 102 | 142 | 366 | 249 | 91 | 346 | 358 | 608 | 285 | 352 | 214 | 462 | 375 | 492 | 412 | 346 | 293 | 218 | 178 | 326 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:02AM1.65m | 1:30PM1.42m | 00:55AM1.38m | 2:16PM1.45m | 2:00AM1.12m | 3:05PM1.48m | 3:37AM0.92m | 3:58PM1.50m | 5:57AM0.86m | 4:54PM1.53m | 7:48AM0.93m | 5:48PM1.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:05PM0.57m | 6:52AM-0.02m | 7:12PM0.59m | 7:29AM0.19m | 8:31PM0.58m | 8:06AM0.41m | 10:06PM0.52m | 8:46AM0.60m | 11:41PM0.40m | 9:39AM0.76m | 00:51AM0.25m | 10:53AM0.86m | 1:41AM0.12m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WSW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 10 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 60 | 142 | 366 | 249 | 80 | 304 | 355 | 608 | 285 | 210 | 128 | 462 | 375 | 492 | 412 | 346 | 293 | 218 | 57 | 326 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | W 8 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 13 | W 6 |
| kJ | 102 | 46 | 71 | 94 | 91 | 346 | 358 | 38 | 273 | 352 | 192 | 86 | 92 | 47 | 20 | 95 | 127 | 165 | 178 | 59 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 11 | W 7 | WSW 13 | SSW 14 | WNW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 6 | W 14 | W 14 | SW 16 | W 14 | SW 12 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | SW 7 | WSW 6 | S 12 | SW 26 |
| kJ | 83 | 43 | 22 | 68 | 61 | 47 | 60 | 7 | 37 | 36 | 214 | 16 | 65 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 11 | 23 | 102 | 105 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | W 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | — | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 24 | 71 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 66 | 3 | 150 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
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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