Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with 932 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Blacks Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Blacks Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s talk about the stretch ahead for Blacks Beach. The 16-day surf forecast is a lesson in patience. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and often messy conditions, before a real shot of quality energy finally arrives in the second week. The water is sitting at 72°, which is a full 4° warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit or even boardshorts, which is a rare treat.
Right now, through this weekend and into the first few days of September, it’s pretty grim. We’ve got a persistent south-west swell, but it’s tiny, mostly 2ft to 3ft, with periods that are long enough (16-19 seconds) to hint at proper groundswell, but the energy just isn’t there. The combined energy is mostly in the mid-to-high 200s to low 400s (moderate at best), and the wind is often cross-on or onshore, leaving it choppy and poor. The best we get is a marginal rating with light winds, but the swell is just too small to get excited about. There’s a gap of nearly a week here where I wouldn’t bother paddling out.
Things start to show a pulse of life around the 3rd of September. Thursday morning (3rd September) sees a jump in combined energy to 901 (moderate) with a 3ft, 20-second SSW groundswell, and the wind is light and offshore from the WSW. That’s a legit window. The period is very long, so it will be a clean, powerful wave at Blacks, but with that long period, it might wall up and throw a bit of a tube on the reef. The afternoon gets a bit cross-on, so the morning is the call.
The standout moment, however, is the first half of Friday the 4th of September. That morning is shaping up to be the best on offer. Swell holds at 4ft from the SSW, still a solid 17-second period, and the combined energy hits 1062 (strong). More importantly, the wind is light and offshore from the west. This is going to be clean, lined-up, and with that much energy, there will be some proper set waves. The crowd will be there (it’s often busy), but for a Friday morning with that quality, it’s worth the paddle. It’s still a manageable size for the advanced crew, but beginner surfers should be careful as it’s edging past the 5ft mark.
The weekend of the 5th and 6th of September sees the swell drop back a little, but still holding around 4ft to 5ft, with light offshore winds again. It’s a solid run of clean days, but the energy dips a bit. By Monday the 7th of September, the wind turns messy again and the quality drops out.
Overall, the best window is a clear one: the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September, and the standout is the morning of Friday the 4th of September. That Friday is the one to circle. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but the signs are there for a proper day.
See you in the water.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 22°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
224 | 197 | 273 | 249 | 175 | 330 | 264 | 208 | 203 | 203 | 196 | 171 | 171 | 128 | 270 | 343 | 419 | 932 | 667 | 733 | 697 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:46AM1.14m | 7:02PM1.65m | 9:01AM1.19m | 7:40PM1.74m | 9:17AM1.24m | 8:14PM1.81m | 9:35AM1.31m | 8:46PM1.84m | 9:55AM1.38m | 9:19PM1.82m | 10:16AM1.46m | 9:52PM1.76m | 10:39AM1.53m | 10:28PM1.64m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:58PM0.88m | 2:23AM0.01m | 1:35PM0.78m | 2:50AM-0.04m | 2:08PM0.68m | 3:14AM-0.07m | 2:40PM0.58m | 3:38AM-0.08m | 3:14PM0.49m | 4:01AM-0.05m | 3:49PM0.42m | 4:24AM0.02m | 4:27PM0.36m | 4:47AM0.13m | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
41 | 135 | 273 | 249 | 175 | 330 | 264 | 222 | 480 | 464 | 535 | 526 | 387 | 326 | 214 | 139 | 103 | 932 | 667 | 733 | 697 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 6 | W 6 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SW 15 | W 7 | W 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | S 8 | W 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 |
137 | 197 | 199 | 17 | 17 | 126 | 126 | 208 | 203 | 47 | 43 | 171 | 38 | 48 | 270 | 343 | 419 | 69 | 90 | 92 | 106 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | S 16 | W 5 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | W 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 |
224 | 45 | 17 | 87 | 93 | 13 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 203 | 196 | 22 | 171 | 128 | 111 | 59 | 118 | 74 | 67 | 40 | 22 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 26 | 27 | 5 | 27 | 261 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 74 | 0 | 27 | 26 | 0 | 125 | 26 | 17 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Blacks Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Blacks Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Blacks Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Blacks Beach 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 (Blacks Beach) 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 Blacks Beach 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.
Blacks Beach is 13 km (8 miles) from the city of 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.











