Imperial Beach surf break

Imperial Beach surfForecast / CAL – San Diego County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Tuesday 05 May 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
16.5° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

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 Wednesday (May 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 0.9m 19s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 09) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Wed 6th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 16s
Best Surf 8AM (Sun 10th May)2.5ft (0.8m) 18s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 9th May)3ft (0.9m) 19s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
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
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
1
2
2
1
2
2
0
1
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)
0.6
SSW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
13
0.8
WNW
7
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
1.1
WNW
8
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
144
217
245
251
171
164
164
99
87
61
152
164
176
268
408
486
528
402
532
392
339
Wind (km/h)
20
W
20
W
10
NW
15
NW
20
WNW
5
NW
15
WNW
15
WNW
5
W
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
WSW
15
SW
10
SW
5
SSW
10
SW
10
SW
5
NW
10
W
15
WNW
10
NW
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
1:09PM0.87m
11:17PM1.49m
2:28PM0.84m
11:54PM1.39m
4:30PM0.87m
00:47AM1.29m
5:31PM0.96m
2:19AM1.19m
5:51PM1.07m
4:02AM1.14m
6:12PM1.19m
5:21AM1.15m
6:35PM1.34m
Low Tide
4:40PM0.76m
7:16AM0.07m
5:00PM0.83m
8:17AM0.13m
5:27PM0.90m
9:23AM0.16m
8:24PM0.95m
10:24AM0.16m
10:34PM0.87m
11:13AM0.16m
11:49PM0.68m
11:54AM0.17m
00:42AM0.45m
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:56
5:56
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:31
7:32
7:34
7:34
7:35
7:36
7:37
2
Temp °C
16
17
16
17
18
17
18
18
17
18
19
18
19
20
18
20
21
19
22
23
21
12
13
12
15
15
16
16
16
17
17
18
18
18
18
18
20
20
19
22
22
21
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.7
W
5
0.7
WNW
6
0.5
SW
14
0.8
W
6
0.8
WNW
7
0.8
WNW
7
0.9
WNW
7
1.1
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
9
0.9
WNW
9
0.9
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
15
Energy kJ
144
217
245
251
171
28
35
99
44
58
62
82
176
202
138
486
528
402
532
392
339
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
WNW
13
0.5
WNW
13
0.7
WNW
5
0.6
WNW
6
0.4
WNW
12
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.4
WNW
13
0.5
WNW
12
0.4
WNW
12
0.4
WNW
11
0.5
WNW
11
0.5
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SSW
18
0.8
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
10
0.7
WNW
9
0.5
W
8
0.5
WNW
11
0.6
WNW
11
Energy kJ
102
98
26
26
56
164
164
68
82
55
51
64
121
268
408
128
128
84
35
64
88
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SW
18
0.3
S
12
0.5
WNW
13
0.4
WNW
12
0.2
S
11
0.4
NW
12
0.3
WNW
11
0.2
SSW
19
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.4
SSW
20
0.4
SSW
20
0.4
SW
13
0.3
WNW
14
0.3
WNW
13
0.4
WNW
12
0.5
WNW
12
0.3
S
12
0.3
S
13
Energy kJ
49
24
95
56
9
35
24
36
87
61
152
164
152
152
44
39
35
59
77
25
28
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
W
4
0.7
W
5
0.6
WNW
6
0.7
WNW
6
0.4
WNW
7
Energy kJ
17
21
25
35
16
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
1
1
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
249
220
12
12
294
12
12
13
0
38
13
13
153
34
16
178
312
12
13
12
12
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
2
3
4
1
4
3
2
4
3
2
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
6
5
5
7
6
5
6
6
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
6
8
9
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 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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