Imperial Beach surf break

Imperial Beach surfForecast / CAL – San Diego County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 am Tuesday 28 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 Wednesday (Apr 29) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s is also forecast. 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 cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Wed 29th Apr)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
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 afternoon, min 15°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

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

Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
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
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
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
WNW
13
0.4
WNW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
1
W
6
1.1
W
7
1.1
WNW
7
0.9
WNW
7
0.8
W
9
0.7
WNW
12
0.8
WNW
12
0.7
WNW
12
0.8
WNW
12
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
57
56
90
63
60
104
74
84
124
140
77
113
160
195
147
186
84
84
129
169
173
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
20
WNW
5
NNW
15
WNW
15
W
5
W
15
WSW
15
WSW
5
WSW
15
WSW
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
WNW
15
WNW
10
W
10
W
15
W
10
NW
15
WNW
20
WNW
15
NNW
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
8:02AM1.30m
8:16PM1.63m
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
Low Tide
1:56PM0.15m
2:46AM0.01m
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
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:03
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:27
7:28
7:29
7:29
7:30
7:30
7:30
Temp °C
17
17
16
17
18
16
17
18
17
18
18
17
18
19
17
18
18
16
16
17
16
14
13
15
15
15
15
15
16
16
16
16
17
17
18
16
17
16
14
13
13
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
WNW
5
0.4
WNW
13
0.6
W
5
0.6
WNW
5
0.4
SW
15
0.6
W
5
0.8
WNW
6
1
W
6
1.1
W
7
1.1
WNW
7
0.9
WNW
7
0.8
W
9
0.7
WNW
12
0.2
SSW
16
0.7
WNW
12
0.8
WNW
12
0.4
SSW
15
0.7
WNW
6
0.5
W
5
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
Energy kJ
14
56
17
23
60
20
50
84
124
140
77
113
160
26
147
186
84
34
14
169
173
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WNW
13
0.3
S
12
0.4
SW
16
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
NW
13
0.4
WNW
13
0.3
SW
13
0.3
S
11
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
NW
11
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
SW
16
0.4
WNW
15
0.6
WNW
14
Energy kJ
57
25
90
63
27
104
74
53
47
45
44
63
26
21
66
66
33
84
129
87
138
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
S
12
0.3
SW
16
0.3
S
15
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SW
12
0.3
S
13
0.3
S
13
0.2
WNW
11
0.3
WNW
14
0.3
WNW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.2
S
9
0.3
SW
12
0.3
S
10
0.3
S
10
0.3
S
13
0.3
WNW
11
0.4
SW
13
0.3
WNW
11
0.3
S
12
Energy kJ
44
42
38
42
23
31
32
12
40
35
45
45
7
23
19
18
31
23
46
23
25
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
WNW
5
0.6
WNW
6
0.8
WNW
12
0.8
WNW
6
0.5
W
5
0.4
W
5
Energy kJ
20
25
195
53
13
8
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
Distance (km)
12
656
12
179
323
38
13
13
13
13
38
0
12
837
13
38
323
12
13
13
12
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
1
1
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
4
1
4
4
3
3
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
8
8
6
5
5
6
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
6
8
7
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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