Surf Forecasts:
Big Rock surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 567 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2PM. 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+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking straight at the chart for the next two and a half weeks. Let's be honest right off the bat: things are looking pretty grim for a long stretch. The first ten days or so are a write-off, with tiny, weak, and often messy swells. The water is sitting at a very unusual 74°F at Big Rock in the morning, which is way warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only highlight for a while.
From Saturday the 15th right through to the end of the week starting the 24th, we're looking at a long, flat spell. Swell heights are barely scraping 2ft to 4ft, and when they do show up, the period is all over the place and the energy is weak – we're talking combined energy values in the 300 to 600 range, which is just not enough to get excited about. Winds are mostly cross-on or onshore, making for choppy, poor surf conditions. You're not missing anything.
There's a solid gap there with absolutely nothing to recommend. It's a lean stretch.
Then, things finally start to perk up around the 25th of August. The charts show a decent pulse of S-SSW swell arriving, pushing heights up to 5ft to 6ft. The combined energy jumps into four-digit territory, hitting 1554 on Tuesday the 25th morning, which is a big change. This is a groundswell with a period of 16 seconds, meaning it's got some serious length and power behind it. For a reef break like Big Rock, that's a good thing – it should hold up and offer some proper lines.
The best window is looking like Tuesday the 25th morning through Wednesday the 26th morning. The swell is 5ft–6ft from the S-SSW, and the wind is light, going from a light cross-shore to a light cross-onshore. The water is still warm, and the crowd factor at Big Rock is often, so it's going to be a popular spot when it turns on. This is the standout period. The 6ft swell on Wednesday morning is borderline for beginners, but for the experienced crew, it's going to be the pick of the whole forecast.
The later part of the run, from the 28th onward, starts to fade back down to smaller, less powerful swells, though the period stays long. It's a promising end to the window, but that 25th-26th window is the one to circle.
Alright, keep watching the sky.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 21°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
432 | 560 | 546 | 444 | 350 | 350 | 297 | 245 | 231 | 208 | 144 | 258 | 287 | 291 | 217 | 211 | 211 | 153 | 116 | 116 | 84 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:51AM1.56m | 11:43PM1.52m | 12:24PM1.56m | 00:31AM1.27m | 1:01PM1.54m | 1:34AM1.04m | 1:42PM1.49m | 3:28AM0.88m | 2:37PM1.45m | 3:54PM1.43m | 8:26AM1.03m | 5:14PM1.47m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 5:45PM0.38m | 5:59AM0.22m | 6:41PM0.41m | 6:27AM0.42m | 7:47PM0.45m | 6:50AM0.62m | 9:15PM0.47m | 7:07AM0.79m | 11:03PM0.41m | 00:25AM0.30m | 10:32AM1.01m | 1:16AM0.18m | |||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
432 | 560 | 546 | 444 | 350 | 350 | 297 | 245 | 86 | 82 | 66 | 258 | 287 | 291 | 217 | 211 | 211 | 153 | 116 | 116 | 84 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 13 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 7 |
109 | 20 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 41 | 36 | 47 | 231 | 208 | 144 | 71 | 68 | 48 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 32 | 19 | 27 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | W 11 | W 7 | W 10 | W 11 | S 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | W 14 | SW 19 | W 13 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 |
46 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 82 | 135 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 57 | 13 | 25 | 45 | 21 | 22 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 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.











