Surf Forecasts:
Cardiff Reef surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 437 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cardiff Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Cardiff Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cardiff Reef in the next 16 days are 1.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 10s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cardiff Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mates, Rusty here, and I’m layin’ it down for this stretch. It’s flat, it’s frustrating, and there’s not much to work with.
We’ve only got Cardiff Reef on the map, and while this spot is usually reliable, the next 16 days are a real dud. The offer starts on Sunday the 16th with a little 3ft SSW swell at a long 15-second period, giving us moderate energy (519). The water’s sitting at 73°, which is 5° warmer than average – that’s notably warm for the season. A light offshore W breeze makes the morning look clean, but the report calls it “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions” with a rating of 1. By the afternoon, it’s a flat 0 – poor conditions. This is a reef that wants WNW, not SSW. That long-period groundswell on the wrong angle might make for straight-up walls.
Then it gets ugly. From Monday the 17th through Saturday the 22nd of August, the swell bounces between 2ft and 3ft with periods from 13 to 16 seconds. Energy stays below 460. Winds turn cross-onshore on the 20th and 21st, adding a ripple. Days like Monday the 24th through the 27th of August are the same tiny story – weak energy, poor to marginal conditions. That’s a long, boring stretch.
The best of a bad bunch is Saturday the 29th of August. The morning shows a 3ft SSW swell at 15 seconds and a combined energy of 612 (moderate-strong). A light offshore W wind means it could look glassy for a while. The afternoon holds at 3ft and 16 seconds with 655 energy. It’s still only rated 1 and called “marginal,” so it’s not the gold. The long period means it’ll be a proper groundswell, but that SSW isn’t what this reef wants. You might find a couple of clean ones, but don’t expect a classic session.
The 30th of August morning has similar potential with light wind and a 3ft, 15-second swell. That’s about it.
For a surfer, this is a stay-dry kind of forecast. If you’re into kite surfing, the afternoons with tiny cross-onshore breeze and barely a wave might let you get rigged up. But for paddle surfing? Don’t hold your breath.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 443 | 367 | 367 | 264 | 316 | 232 | 243 | 339 | 382 | 387 | 242 | 236 | 236 | 170 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 90 | 239 | 222 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 00:33AM1.60m | 1:00PM1.93m | 1:34AM1.37m | 1:40PM1.88m | 3:22AM1.21m | 2:32PM1.82m | 3:46PM1.79m | 8:25AM1.36m | 5:06PM1.82m | 8:27AM1.43m | 6:08PM1.91m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 6:45PM0.75m | 6:23AM0.77m | 7:50PM0.79m | 6:46AM0.96m | 9:14PM0.81m | 7:00AM1.12m | 10:58PM0.76m | 00:18AM0.65m | 10:08AM1.35m | 1:09AM0.54m | 11:57AM1.32m | 1:47AM0.43m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 443 | 367 | 367 | 264 | 60 | 72 | 57 | 339 | 382 | 387 | 242 | 236 | 236 | 170 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 90 | 239 | 222 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | W 6 | SW 18 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 18 | 8 | 33 | 32 | 316 | 232 | 243 | 51 | 56 | 40 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 51 | 11 | 83 | 52 | 49 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 114 | 98 | 2 | 16 | 4 | 50 | 56 | 16 | 27 | 81 | 48 | 47 | 6 | 113 | 58 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 5 | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 19 | 27 | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 44 | 43 | 43 | 44 | 1 | 43 | 44 | 0 | 43 | 44 | 0 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 44 | 92 | 0 | 44 | 43 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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 16 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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