Cardiff Reef surfForecast / CAL – San Diego County / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 pm Saturday 20 Dec 2025 PST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Cardiff Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cardiff Reef sea temperature is
17.0° C
(Which is 1.9°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cardiff Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Cardiff Reef over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Dec 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cardiff Reef in the next 12 days are 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Dec 26) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Dec 24) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (PST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 21st Dec)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Best Surf 4AM (Fri 26th Dec)5ft (1.6m) 11s
Most Powerful 4AM (Fri 26th Dec)5ft (1.6m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cardiff Reef over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Tue night, calm by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Sat
27
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
3
3
2
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.5
W
0.6
W
0.7
W
0.6
W
0.6
W
0.6
W
0.7
W
0.7
W
0.4
SW
0.4
SW
1.8
SSW
1
WSW
1
WSW
0.4
SW
0.8
W
1.3
W
1.5
W
1.5
W
1.4
W
1.2
W
0.9
W
Period(s) (?)1012111111101091515787139111010101010
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)49104121888578968557542761201114995375461452424305171
Wind
(km/h)
0
SSE
5
NNW
15
NW
10
NNW
5
WNW
10
NW
5
W
5
SSE
20
SSE
15
SE
40
S
15
S
15
ESE
20
S
15
SW
10
SE
10
SE
5
SSW
5
ESE
10
S
10
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glasscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
glasscross-
on
onglasscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscrosscross-
off
crosscross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
glassglasscrosscross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:29PM
1.48
8:56AM
2.24
11:07PM
1.47
9:29AM
2.19
11:47PM
1.48
10:04AM
2.10
12:27AM
1.50
10:41AM
1.98
1:08AM
1.56
11:26AM
1.81
1:50AM
1.65
12:26PM
1.61
2:33AM
1.77
1:56PM
1.42
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:37AM
1.16
4:25PM
0.21
3:11AM
1.18
5:00PM
0.25
3:50AM
1.21
5:34PM
0.32
4:39AM
1.23
6:08PM
0.41
5:44AM
1.25
6:44PM
0.51
7:11AM
1.21
7:23PM
0.64
8:53AM
1.08
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Sat
27
Sunrise-6:48--6:48--6:48--6:48--6:50--6:50--6:50-
Sunset--4:45--4:45--4:46--4:46--4:47--4:49--4:49
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
--------1514373-------
Temp. °C151817161817161717171818161818171817171817
Feels °C (?)151615161617161514111517151517161616171516
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Cardiff Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cardiff Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


false

Information about the Cardiff Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Cardiff Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Cardiff Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cardiff Reef 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 (Cardiff Reef) 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 Cardiff Reef 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.

Cardiff Reef is 3 km (2 miles) from the city of Encinitas. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Encinitas. Encinitas has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest