Cardiff Reef surfForecast / CAL – San Diego County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Tuesday 19 May 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
18.9° C
(Which is 2.5°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 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 19) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 11s period. 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 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 14s period and expected on Thursday (May 21) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 19th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 11s
Best Surf11PM (Tue 19th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 11s
Most Powerful 8PM (Mon 25th May)3.5ft (1.1m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cardiff Reef over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
11
0.7
W
11
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.5
SW
19
0.5
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.5
SSW
19
0.7
SW
14
0.9
SSW
17
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
96
116
90
124
145
184
106
174
150
249
150
191
299
302
255
220
201
214
448
601
463
Wind (km/h)
15
W
15
WNW
5
W
15
WSW
10
W
10
SSW
10
W
10
W
5
SW
15
W
15
W
5
WNW
15
W
15
WNW
5
NW
15
WNW
15
WNW
5
WNW
15
WSW
15
W
5
SSW
on
on
on
on
on
cross
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
cross
High Tide
1:06PM1.51m
11:35PM2.33m
2:19PM1.52m
00:35AM2.14m
3:32PM1.58m
1:46AM1.94m
4:33PM1.68m
3:10AM1.76m
5:21PM1.80m
4:37AM1.63m
6:00PM1.91m
5:56AM1.56m
6:33PM2.00m
Low Tide
5:11PM1.18m
7:16AM0.10m
6:21PM1.25m
8:18AM0.23m
7:54PM1.29m
9:20AM0.35m
9:42PM1.23m
10:18AM0.47m
11:14PM1.07m
11:09AM0.59m
00:22AM0.88m
11:53AM0.70m
1:13AM0.69m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:47
5:46
5:46
5:45
5:45
5:43
5:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:44
7:45
7:45
7:45
7:46
7:46
7:47
Temp °C
20
20
19
21
21
19
20
20
18
19
19
17
18
18
16
18
18
16
17
17
16
18
18
19
19
19
19
19
18
18
17
17
16
16
16
15
17
15
15
15
14
15
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
11
0.5
S
13
0.5
W
4
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.5
W
5
0.5
S
14
0.6
SW
15
0.6
W
12
0.6
SW
18
0.5
SW
14
0.6
SW
15
0.8
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.7
SW
14
0.9
SSW
17
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
Energy kJ
88
90
10
124
145
11
107
174
98
249
100
191
299
302
255
220
167
214
448
601
463
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
13
0.4
SW
16
0.5
S
13
0.5
W
10
0.5
W
13
0.5
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.6
S
14
0.6
S
13
0.5
S
13
0.5
SW
18
0.5
W
11
0.4
S
12
0.4
S
12
0.3
S
11
0.3
S
11
0.5
SSW
19
0.7
W
5
0.3
S
10
0.2
S
10
0.7
W
6
Energy kJ
90
94
90
52
89
109
106
146
126
87
150
58
44
44
21
20
201
22
16
7
31
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
16
0.2
WNW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SSW
12
0.4
SSW
12
0.5
SW
19
0.5
W
5
0.2
WNW
12
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
14
0.5
S
13
0.4
S
12
0.4
WNW
10
0.1
SW
21
0.2
SSW
19
0.2
SSW
20
0.3
S
11
0.5
SSW
18
0.1
NW
10
0.1
NW
9
0.2
S
9
Energy kJ
96
25
90
50
49
184
14
14
150
97
79
45
34
18
36
37
20
176
4
3
7
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
W
11
0.5
WNW
4
0.5
W
5
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
10
0.4
WNW
4
0.4
WNW
4
0.6
WNW
4
0.6
W
5
0.7
W
6
Energy kJ
116
10
14
59
51
5
5
11
20
31
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
3
Distance (km)
198
43
1
44
44
21
44
44
0
44
43
0
44
43
42
43
44
42
131
172
59
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
3
3
2
3
3
1
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
7
5
6
9
6
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
  • 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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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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