Imperial Beach surf break

Imperial Beach surfForecast / CAL – San Diego County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Wednesday 29 Apr 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Imperial Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Imperial Beach sea temperature is
17.0° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Imperial Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Imperial Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Apr 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Imperial Beach in the next 16 days are 0.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 05) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Thu 30th Apr)1.5ft (0.5m) 15s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 1st May)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Most Powerful 8AM (Tue 5th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Imperial Beach over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
1
W
7
1.2
WNW
8
1
W
7
0.4
NW
13
0.7
WNW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.6
WNW
12
0.4
SW
16
0.6
WNW
11
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
63
60
104
74
53
94
169
97
45
168
66
111
79
102
84
129
169
171
191
217
245
Wind (km/h)
10
W
15
W
5
SSW
15
W
15
WSW
5
WSW
10
WSW
15
W
5
SW
10
W
15
W
5
WSW
15
WSW
15
W
15
WNW
10
WSW
20
WSW
25
W
20
WNW
20
WNW
10
NW
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
8:45AM1.25m
8:41PM1.68m
9:25AM1.19m
9:05PM1.71m
10:05AM1.13m
9:30PM1.70m
10:45AM1.07m
9:54PM1.68m
11:26AM1.01m
10:19PM1.63m
12:13PM0.94m
10:46PM1.57m
1:09PM0.87m
11:17PM1.49m
Low Tide
2:22PM0.25m
3:21AM-0.08m
2:46PM0.35m
3:55AM-0.14m
3:09PM0.45m
4:29AM-0.16m
3:33PM0.54m
5:04AM-0.13m
3:56PM0.62m
5:42AM-0.09m
4:18PM0.69m
6:25AM-0.01m
4:40PM0.76m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:28
7:29
7:29
7:30
7:30
7:30
7:31
2
Temp °C
18
18
16
18
18
17
17
18
16
18
18
17
16
17
16
17
17
16
17
17
16
16
15
15
16
15
16
15
16
15
17
15
16
15
15
13
14
13
13
13
12
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
W
5
0.4
SW
15
0.6
W
5
0.6
W
6
0.8
WNW
6
1
W
7
1.2
WNW
8
1
W
7
0.8
W
6
0.7
WNW
13
0.4
WNW
12
0.6
WNW
12
0.5
WNW
12
0.4
SSW
15
0.6
WNW
5
0.5
WNW
11
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
Energy kJ
14
60
19
25
53
94
169
97
44
168
58
111
79
84
18
68
169
171
191
217
245
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
16
0.3
WNW
12
0.5
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.4
NW
13
0.3
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.3
S
13
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
SW
16
0.4
WNW
11
0.5
WNW
14
0.5
WNW
13
0.5
WNW
13
0.5
W
5
Energy kJ
63
27
104
74
53
47
45
45
42
26
66
66
66
31
84
129
46
118
102
98
10
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SW
12
0.3
WNW
11
0.3
S
13
0.2
WNW
11
0.3
WNW
14
0.3
WNW
13
0.3
WNW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.2
S
9
0.3
S
11
0.3
S
10
0.3
S
10
0.3
SW
18
0.3
WNW
11
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
WNW
15
0.3
S
12
0.3
SW
18
0.3
S
12
0.5
WNW
13
Energy kJ
42
23
25
32
11
40
35
34
45
7
21
19
18
50
23
70
89
25
49
24
96
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
WNW
6
0.5
W
5
0.6
WNW
11
0.3
WSW
2
0.6
W
4
0.8
W
5
0.7
W
5
Energy kJ
25
15
102
1
9
28
22
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
Distance (km)
38
323
0
153
38
13
153
13
0
153
38
0
13
38
12
13
38
208
294
656
12
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
3
2
1
3
3
2
2
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
6
5
5
9
7
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
5
9
6
  • 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 Imperial Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Imperial Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Imperial Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Imperial 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 (Imperial 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 Imperial 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.

Imperial Beach is 2 km (1 miles) from the city of Imperial Beach. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Imperial Beach. Imperial Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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