
Surf Forecasts:
Big Rock surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,127 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and listen up, this is Rusty.
First up, it’s pretty quiet for a few days. The swell is there, but it’s just not got the quality to get excited about for a while. The water is a real standout though - it’s sitting at a very unusual 73°F which is 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a full-on tropical bath, so if you’re going in, you won’t need a wetsuit.
Now, let’s talk about the one spot that’s got our attention. The real highlight of this whole 16-day window is the window around the 27th of July into the 28th at Big Rock. This is an advanced reef break that needs an east wind to be clean, and we’re looking at cross-shore and cross-onshore breezes, but the swell is the story. On Monday morning the 27th, we’ve got a moderate 4ft SW groundswell with a period of 18 seconds. That long period gives it real shape and energy, and the combined energy is sitting at a solid 1003 (moderate energy). It’s not huge, but it’s enough to get your blood pumping. Tuesday morning the 28th bumps up a touch to 4ft from the SW, with a period of 17 seconds and energy at 1055. This is the best of the run. It’s a bit small for the experts who want it overhead, but for the strong intermediate crew, it’s going to be fun. The wind is a bit cross-onshore, so it won’t be glassy, but it’s manageable. The crowds are a thing here though - it’s often busy, so get there early.
The rest of the first week is just marginal. The swell hangs around through the 31st of July, pushing up to 6ft on the Friday morning from the SSW, but with a shorter period of 13 seconds, it’s not as clean. The wind flicks offshore on the 31st, which is a positive, but the wave quality is still just ‘marginal’. It’s not a write-off, just not the best of the window.
After that, from the 2nd of August onwards, it’s a real drought. The swell drops right off to 3ft and then stays below 2ft for a solid week. The models are calling it “poor surf conditions” and the scores are a big fat zero. That’s a full week of flatness, so don’t bother checking the cam until around the 9th of August, but even then, it’s still tiny at 2ft. It’s a long stretch of nothing.
So, for the standout, it’s Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of July at Big Rock. The swell is directional, the period is long, and it’s the only real window of energy. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
513 | 945 | 716 | 609 | 694 | 901 | 511 | 717 | 951 | 908 | 864 | 644 | 644 | 573 | 849 | 975 | 1111 | 1028 | 919 | 775 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:19PM1.70m | 9:38AM1.10m | 7:57PM1.78m | 9:59AM1.13m | 8:31PM1.83m | 10:21AM1.16m | 9:04PM1.87m | 10:44AM1.20m | 9:36PM1.87m | 11:08AM1.25m | 10:08PM1.82m | 11:34AM1.30m | 10:41PM1.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:52AM-0.05m | 1:41PM0.83m | 3:22AM-0.11m | 2:17PM0.77m | 3:50AM-0.14m | 2:51PM0.72m | 4:17AM-0.16m | 3:25PM0.67m | 4:43AM-0.15m | 4:01PM0.63m | 5:08AM-0.10m | 4:39PM0.61m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
513 | 945 | 716 | 609 | 694 | 901 | 511 | 717 | 951 | 908 | 864 | 644 | 644 | 573 | 849 | 975 | 1111 | 1028 | 919 | 775 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | S 14 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 |
44 | 35 | 51 | 52 | 39 | 81 | 79 | 54 | 96 | 93 | 54 | 74 | 54 | 329 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SW 19 | S 8 | S 10 | SSE 14 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 |
47 | 48 | 73 | 46 | 47 | 21 | 299 | 6 | 8 | 41 | 314 | 205 | 191 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 211 | 4 | 6 | 211 | 4 | 6 | 66 | 4 | 127 | 266 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










