Surf Forecasts:
Big Rock surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 367 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s 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 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 5AM. 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 (Tue 15th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, it's Rusty. Let's talk about what's on the table for Big Rock. I’m looking at a long 16-day forecast and, honestly, there’s not much to get excited about. It’s going to be a slow, frustrating period for anyone hoping for a proper session. The overall vibe is small and messy.
The main issue is the wind. For the majority of the next two weeks, it’s coming from the SW and WSW, putting us in a cross-offshore to cross-onshore position. That’s going to make the surface choppy and bumpy. The swell is small, rarely cracking 4ft, and the wave energy is consistently weak to moderate – we’re talking numbers like 222 up to 542, which just doesn't have any grunt.
The first week, from Saturday the 12th of September through Friday the 18th, is particularly flat and unappealing. The surf reports are all calling it poor. There are no real diamonds in the rough here, but if you had to pick the least ugly option, it would be the morning of Wednesday the 16th. We get a little 2-3ft (that's about 0.8m) swell from the SW, but the wind shifts to light onshore from the WNW at about 6 mph (10 km/h). For a reef like Big Rock, that long period of 17 seconds should help the waves stand up a bit, giving you some shape on those small lines. The light wind means the surface could be clean for a few hours. But at this size, it’s not going to be epic. And keep in mind, the crowds at Big Rock are ‘often’, so you won’t be alone.
Looking further out, the second week doesn't offer any relief. From the 19th on, the swells stay in that 2-3ft range, with moderate energy and the same persistent onshore to cross-onshore wind. It’s a long, blank run of nothing special. This is a spot that needs a bit of size and the right wind to show its quality, and neither is on the menu. It’s a quiet time on the water.
Stay patient out there,
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri night, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 301 | 248 | 200 | 158 | 113 | 109 | 189 | 200 | 150 | 147 | 161 | 149 | 121 | 354 | 254 | 302 | 186 | 255 | 214 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:03PM1.71m | 10:28AM1.70m | 10:44PM1.53m | 10:55AM1.70m | 11:28PM1.34m | 11:22AM1.67m | 00:17AM1.15m | 11:51AM1.60m | 1:23AM0.98m | 12:23PM1.51m | 1:09PM1.41m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:15AM0.11m | 4:40PM0.16m | 4:41AM0.28m | 5:24PM0.18m | 5:04AM0.45m | 6:10PM0.23m | 5:24AM0.62m | 7:05PM0.30m | 5:36AM0.78m | 8:21PM0.37m | 10:08PM0.39m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 301 | 248 | 200 | 33 | 97 | 109 | 189 | 200 | 140 | 63 | 74 | 79 | 52 | 354 | 254 | 302 | 186 | 255 | 214 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 11 |
| kJ | 25 | 38 | 36 | 158 | 113 | 109 | 61 | 150 | 150 | 147 | 161 | 121 | 121 | 32 | 11 | 50 | 81 | 27 | 57 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 21 | SW 21 | W 4 |
| kJ | 17 | 28 | 27 | 13 | 12 | 67 | 127 | 60 | 55 | 53 | 37 | 149 | 82 | 14 | 16 | 28 | 116 | 117 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 127 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 127 | 67 | 3 | 127 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 1 |
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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