Surf Forecasts:
Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 371 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. I’m looking at the Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach stretch, and I’ve got to be straight with you: it’s a slow start. We’ve got a lot of small, junky swell and cross-onshore winds messing things up for the next week or so. It’s not going to be pretty, but keep the faith – there’s a little pulse of energy trying to show up later on.
The water is running at 75° which is a good seven degrees warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a huge deal – it’s like bathwater out there. You won’t need a wetsuit, just a good attitude.
From Tuesday the 4th through the following week, we’re looking at ankle to knee-high dribble. Swell heights are stuck between 1ft and 3ft, with periods mostly in that 13 to 15 second range. That’s a longer period, which usually means better shape, but there’s just no size to work with. The energy readings are weak to moderate – mostly in the 130s to 380s – and the wind is a constant cross-onshore from the west or southwest. The combo is making for choppy, messy conditions. It’s really not worth paddling out for anything more than a splash about.
We do see a bit of a bump around the 14th and 15th. The swell fills in a little, getting to 3ft to 4ft from the southwest, and the energy readings climb into the 500s and 600s. That’s a moderate amount of energy, which is the most we’ve seen. But the wind switches to a cross-shore from the west-northwest, and it’s still going to be a bit lumpy. It’s marginal, not great. The period drops back to 15-16 seconds, so the waves will have some push, but the wind will keep it from being clean.
Looking further out, the 16th and beyond, we start to fade again. The swell drops back to 3ft-3ft, and the energy backs off. The wind stays cross or cross-on, so it’s more of the same.
Honestly, there’s no standout day in this window. The best you can hope for is a slightly bigger, but still mushy, wave around the 15th. It’s not a time for epic sessions. The pier and the beach break aren’t going to do you any favors with this small, long-period swell. It’ll be straight and walled, not much fun. If you’re desperate, you might get a few grovelly ones on a longboard, but don’t expect much.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 107 | 167 | 134 | 96 | 155 | 108 | 168 | 113 | 248 | 173 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | 220 | 217 | 211 | 183 | 156 | 180 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:05AM0.99m | 2:35PM1.62m | 4:15AM0.85m | 3:43PM1.68m | 6:42AM0.91m | 4:59PM1.77m | 7:51AM1.04m | 6:08PM1.90m | 8:31AM1.16m | 7:08PM2.03m | 9:05AM1.27m | 8:01PM2.13m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:51PM0.49m | 7:43AM0.55m | 10:30PM0.39m | 8:29AM0.72m | 00:04AM0.21m | 10:07AM0.84m | 1:13AM-0.00m | 11:52AM0.85m | 2:06AM-0.19m | 1:08PM0.77m | 2:50AM-0.33m | 2:06PM0.65m | 3:31AM-0.40m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 17 | 167 | 134 | 96 | 155 | 108 | 168 | 106 | 136 | 103 | 309 | 230 | 261 | 367 | 220 | 217 | 211 | 183 | 156 | 180 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 11 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 5 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 107 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 113 | 248 | 173 | 92 | 69 | 90 | 69 | 42 | 43 | 30 | 63 | 134 | 133 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 20 | SW 20 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | S 9 | W 4 | W 4 | S 8 | W 4 | W 4 | SW 21 | W 5 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 12 |
| kJ | 69 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 60 | 64 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 72 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 45 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 62 | 62 | 8 | 8 | 154 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach 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 (Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach) 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 Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach 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.
Crystal Pier and Pacific Beach is 9 km (6 miles) from San Diego. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Diego. San Diego has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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