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Surf Forecasts:

Cortez Bank surfForecast / CAL – San Diego County / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 pm Tuesday 13 Jan 2026 PST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Cortez Bank surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cortez Bank sea temperature is
16.3° C
 (Which is 1.3°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cortez Bank this week:

The surf forecast for Cortez Bank over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 20) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 20s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cortez Bank in the next 12 days are 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 15) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Tue 20th Jan)4.5ft (1.3m) 13s
Best Surf 7PM (Tue 20th Jan)3.5ft (1.1m) 18s
Most Powerful 7AM (Thu 15th Jan)6ft (1.8m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cortez Bank over the next 12 days.

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

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
3
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.1
WNW
1.7
WNW
1.6
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.8
WNW
1.7
WNW
1.7
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.2
WNW
1
WNW
1
WNW
0.9
WNW
1.2
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.3
WNW
Period(s) (?)141313131716141413131312121216151414141313
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)17241002824669992161311871171778767613406308265469596911693714586526
Wind
(km/h)
10
NW
15
WNW
15
NW
15
NW
10
WNW
10
NW
10
WNW
15
NW
15
NW
20
NW
20
NW
15
NW
20
NW
15
NW
15
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
15
NW
10
WNW
10
WNW
5
W
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		oncross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		onglass
High Tide
/ height (m)
7:52PM
1.25
5:51AM
1.91
8:24PM
1.31
6:30AM
1.99
8:50PM
1.34
7:07AM
2.07
9:16PM
1.37
7:43AM
2.13
9:42PM
1.39
8:16AM
2.17
10:08PM
1.41
8:50AM
2.16
10:35PM
1.45
9:23AM
2.10
Low Tide
/ height (m)
11:13PM
1.15
1:34PM
0.34
12:04AM
1.14
2:06PM
0.25
12:45AM
1.11
2:38PM
0.18
1:22AM
1.07
3:08PM
0.13
1:57AM
1.03
3:38PM
0.12
2:33AM
1.00
4:06PM
0.14
3:11AM
0.97
Tue
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Sunrise--6:58--6:58--6:56--6:56--6:56--6:56--6:56
Sunset5:10--5:12--5:13--5:14--5:15--5:15--5:16--
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
---------------------
Temp. °C202017171616171615151515151616171715151515
Feels °C (?)161615141414151413121213121313141413131315
  • 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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Latest Updates

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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 Cortez Bank 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 Cortez Bank at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Cortez Bank Surf forecast

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

Cortez Bank is 130 km (81 miles) from Catalina Island. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Catalina Island. Catalina Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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