Surf Forecasts:
Big Rock surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SW swell with 379 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 0.7m 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 0.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 11AM. 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 (Tue 15th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the outlook for Big Rock.
Honestly, it’s a pretty bleak stretch ahead. The next couple of weeks are looking like a tough slog, with barely a session worth paddling out for. The swell is there, but the wind and conditions are just not playing ball. There’s a long gap at the start with absolutely no worthwhile surf, and it stays marginal at best right through.
We start off on Sunday the 13th of September with nothing doing. Tiny, weak 2ft swell from the southwest, with a cross-onshore breeze messing it up. The combined energy is weak (179), and it’s described as poor surf. That theme sticks around for several days. Monday the 14th brings a slightly bigger 4ft west swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds and it’s still cross-onshore, making for choppy, poor conditions.
It’s not until Wednesday the 16th that we see a flicker of hope, but it’s a real struggle. The wind turns offshore, light from the west-southwest, and the swell is a clean 3ft from the southwest with a long 17-second period. The combined energy is moderate (403), but the wave comment says it’s marginal due to tide. It’s a tiny window, and you’d be scratching for one.
The rest of the week and into the next is more of the same. Swell heights bob around 2ft to 3ft, periods vary from 12 to 19 seconds, but the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. The combined energy climbs a bit, hitting a moderate 675 on Monday the 21st of September, but again, the conditions are marginal and the wind is cross-onshore. There’s no real standout here. The best you could hope for is a glassy morning with a light offshore, like on the 23rd or 24th of September, but even then, the swell is small and the energy is moderate at best.
Given the persistent onshore and cross-onshore wind, and the generally weak-to-moderate swell, this setup at Big Rock – a reef break – is more interesting for a kite session than a paddle. The wind is consistent, and the swell is just not delivering clean, rideable waves for a surfer.
Keep your wax in the cupboard for this one, folks. It’s a blank run. Forecasts can change, but for now, there’s nothing to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | W 10 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 158 | 113 | 109 | 220 | 239 | 173 | 147 | 161 | 149 | 121 | 358 | 254 | 367 | 280 | 255 | 214 | 303 | 303 | 183 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 2:38PM1.34m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:39PM0.32m | |||||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 6 |
| kJ | 21 | 54 | 59 | 220 | 239 | 173 | 123 | 97 | 81 | 51 | 358 | 254 | 367 | 280 | 255 | 214 | 162 | 144 | 34 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 158 | 113 | 109 | 61 | 150 | 150 | 147 | 161 | 121 | 121 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 46 | 162 | 153 | 303 | 303 | 154 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 8 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 21 | S 9 | S 9 | W 5 | S 8 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 13 | 12 | 67 | 127 | 60 | 55 | 53 | 23 | 149 | 83 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 116 | 25 | 25 | 14 | 5 | 183 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | WNW 4 | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | — | 15 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 127 | 150 | 3 | 127 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 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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