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Surf Forecasts:

Cardiff Reef surfForecast / CAL – San Diego County / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 am Wednesday 11 Mar 2026 PDT
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
16.1° C
 (Which is 1.0°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 Thursday (Mar 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s. 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 1.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Mar 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 18s period and expected on Monday (Mar 16) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 12th Mar)3ft (0.9m) 17s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 12th Mar)3ft (0.9m) 17s
Most Powerful 5AM (Mon 16th Mar)3.5ft (1.0m) 18s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
16 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
11
Thursday
12
Friday
13
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
0
3
0
0
1
1
0
2
3
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.6
W
0.9
SSW
0.6
WNW
0.4
SW
0.4
SW
0.9
SSW
0.5
W
0.4
SW
0.7
SSW
0.7
SSW
0.5
SSW
0.6
SSW
0.9
SSW
0.7
SSW
0.7
SW
1
SSW
1
SSW
0.8
SSW
1
SSW
1
SSW
0.9
SSW
Period(s) (?)11191114151781414142220202018181716161515
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)866219357634763760204218263314555395319662632330540494381
Wind
(km/h)
10
NNW
15
NW
5
NW
10
NW
10
NW
0
NW
5
WSW
5
W
5
SSW
10
S
15
SW
0
SSE
5
WSW
10
W
5
NW
10
WNW
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
WNW
10
WNW
5
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		glasscross-
on		oncrosscrosscross-
on		glassglassonglassoncross-
on		glassoncross-
on		glass
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:33AM
1.72
8:24PM
1.48
5:49AM
1.81
8:25PM
1.54
6:40AM
1.93
8:34PM
1.62
7:22AM
2.03
8:48PM
1.71
8:00AM
2.11
9:05PM
1.83
8:38AM
2.13
9:26PM
1.95
Low Tide
/ height (m)
11:59AM
0.70
12:51PM
0.58
12:00AM
1.37
1:26PM
0.47
12:50AM
1.25
1:55PM
0.37
1:27AM
1.11
2:21PM
0.31
2:02AM
0.95
2:45PM
0.28
2:38AM
0.78
3:10PM
0.31
3:16AM
0.62
Wednesday
11
Thursday
12
Friday
13
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Sunrise7:05--7:03--7:01--7:01--6:58--6:58--6:56--
Sunset-6:52--6:53--6:54--6:55--6:55--6:57--6:58-
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
---------------------
Temp. °C171820262723262421212018202018212119212320
Feels °C (?)161519232322232220191717201818191918192120
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Cardiff Reef at:
surf-forecast.com

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.

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