Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Beach surf forecast from 26 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: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, SSW swell with 965 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 15s period. 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 1.7m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Right off the bat, things are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for the next week. The only spot on the radar is Blacks Beach, and for the first several days, the surf is small and the conditions are just not cooperating. We’ve got a long stretch of weak, grovelly waves with a cross-onshore or onshore wind, making it tough to get excited. The water is a warm 73°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a bath, but the waves are letting us down.
We start on Wednesday, 26 August with a small 3ft swell from the SW, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, making it a bit bumpy. The combined swell energy is only 332 (weak) – not much to work with. Thursday and Friday are similar, with tiny 2ft to 3ft SW swells and cross-onshore winds. The energy is in the low to mid hundreds, and the wave comment keeps saying “poor” or “marginal.” The surf is just not there.
The weekend (Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August) sees a little bump in swell energy, with the combined energy climbing to 906 and 714 (moderate), but the swell is only 4ft to 4ft from the SSW. The wind turns offshore in the mornings, which is a big positive – cleaner surfaces. But the wave state is still “marginal” and the overall score is low. It’s not a total washout, but it’s not a standout either.
We then hit a dry spell from Monday 31 August through Tuesday 1 September, with swell dropping to 1ft and energy down to 53 (weak). Absolutely nothing happening.
Then things get interesting around Wednesday 2 September. The swell jumps to 6ft from the SSW, with a period of 13 seconds, and the combined energy is 981 (strong). But the wind is a moderate cross-onshore from the NNW at 12 mph, turning the surface choppy. It only gets bigger on Thursday 3 September, with 7ft SSW swell and energy of 1286 (strong), but again cross-onshore winds. The wave state is “fairly choppy,” and the setup is better for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The waves are too big and messy for a good session.
From Friday 4 September onwards, the swell settles back to 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with offshore winds making for better conditions. The energy is still in the 600-800 range (moderate). But the surf quality is still only “marginal” or “poor.” It’s frustrating because the wind is right, but the swell just isn’t there.
The best bet in this whole 16-day window is probably Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, when we get a little more size (4ft to 4ft) and clean offshore winds. The swell direction is SSW, which is not the optimum for Blacks Beach (it likes WNW), but with the long period (15-16 seconds) and clean conditions, there will be some rideable, lined-up waves. The energy is moderate, so it’s not a total washout. The crowds at Blacks Beach can be often, so expect company.
The long-range forecast into early September is a bit more promising, but those waves on the 2nd and 3rd are too big and choppy for a good paddle session. The week after that looks small again.
So, overall, it’s a tough run. The first week is mostly flat, the second week has a pulse of swell but with messy wind. No real standouts, but if you’re keen, the clean offshore mornings on the weekend of 29-30 August are your best shot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
302 | 196 | 171 | 132 | 132 | 270 | 343 | 470 | 932 | 667 | 788 | 697 | 537 | 400 | 321 | 257 | 161 | 118 | 45 | 80 | 9 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:35AM1.31m | 8:46PM1.84m | 9:55AM1.38m | 9:19PM1.82m | 10:16AM1.46m | 9:52PM1.76m | 10:39AM1.53m | 10:28PM1.64m | 11:04AM1.60m | 11:08PM1.47m | 11:32AM1.65m | 11:54PM1.27m | 12:05PM1.67m | 00:55AM1.06m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:10PM0.31m | 5:11AM0.27m | 5:59PM0.30m | 5:35AM0.43m | 6:59PM0.30m | ||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
556 | 446 | 305 | 389 | 274 | 151 | 343 | 470 | 932 | 667 | 788 | 172 | 177 | 142 | 131 | 74 | 190 | 344 | 563 | 547 | 748 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 8 | W 10 | W 7 | W 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | S 14 | W 5 | SW 18 | WNW 9 |
302 | 196 | 171 | 132 | 132 | 270 | 101 | 51 | 75 | 106 | 118 | 697 | 537 | 400 | 321 | 257 | 38 | 148 | 8 | 80 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | SW 13 | W 9 | W 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 10 | — |
30 | 19 | 12 | 22 | 33 | 113 | 55 | 46 | 33 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 58 | 80 | 73 | 202 | 161 | 118 | 45 | 19 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 27 | 0 | 125 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 16 | 27 | 26 | 0 | 27 | 26 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











