Surf Forecasts:
Imperial Pier (North and South) surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s period, S swell with 1,572 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Imperial Pier (North and South) this week:
The surf forecast for Imperial Pier (North and South) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Imperial Pier (North and South) in the next 16 days are 2.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Imperial Pier (North and South) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up to be for us at Imperial Pier.
Right off the bat, we’re looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions. For the next several days, the swell is tiny and the wind is just a mess, never truly clean. We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday the 26th of August, but even then, it's just barely hanging in there. The real standout is going to be much further down the line.
The water temp is sitting at about 69°F, which feels about average for this time of year.
The Long Haul to the Good Stuff
From Friday the 21st all the way through to Tuesday the 1st of September, it's going to be a real struggle. The swell is small and the cross-onshore winds will keep it bumpy. We'll see a pulse of bigger, southerly swell on Wednesday the 26th, with chest to head-high sets (6ft) from the S, but a moderate *combined swell energy* of 1733 still leaves it choppy and unappealing thanks to those cross-onshore winds. Don't get your hopes up.
Late Breakthrough
The one that gets my blood pumping is Thursday the 3rd of September. That afternoon, the wind goes glassy, and we get a clean 4ft S swell with a nice, long period of 15 seconds. The *combined swell energy* is a solid 1133. This is the best wave quality of the whole forecast. It’s going to be lined up and proper, but with a crowd rating of ‘sometimes’, expect a few other souls who’ve been waiting just as long.
Big Friday
Friday the 4th of September is a cracker for the experienced crew. In the afternoon, the wind goes glassy again, and we see a solid 7ft S swell (15 second period), with a *combined swell energy* of 2327. This is proper groundswell, powerful and clean, but remember, at over 8ft on Saturday the 5th, it’s going to be a heavy, expert-only affair at this beach break. The take-off will be critical.
The Takeaway
Without a doubt, the pick of the entire 16-day window is Thursday afternoon the 3rd of September and Friday afternoon the 4th of September. If you can only paddle out once, make it glassy Thursday for quality, or Friday for power. The rest of the fortnight is a write-off for anything decent.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 137 | 98 | 112 | 239 | 222 | 217 | 197 | 276 | 246 | 173 | 270 | 260 | 251 | 507 | 1371 | 1303 | 638 | 338 | 254 | 189 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 5:20PM1.41m | 8:28AM1.06m | 6:22PM1.50m | 8:39AM1.12m | 7:09PM1.60m | 8:53AM1.18m | 7:46PM1.70m | 9:11AM1.24m | 8:20PM1.76m | 9:31AM1.31m | 8:52PM1.80m | 9:53AM1.39m | 9:24PM1.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:16AM0.22m | 12:02PM0.98m | 1:53AM0.12m | 12:57PM0.88m | 2:23AM0.03m | 1:35PM0.77m | 2:49AM-0.02m | 2:09PM0.66m | 3:14AM-0.06m | 2:43PM0.56m | 3:39AM-0.07m | 3:17PM0.47m | 4:03AM-0.04m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SSW 14 | WNW 6 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 137 | 98 | 27 | 239 | 222 | 41 | 41 | 276 | 30 | 154 | 270 | 260 | 31 | 507 | 1371 | 1303 | 638 | 338 | 254 | 148 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | WNW 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | WNW 6 | S 13 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 29 | 18 | 90 | 30 | 26 | 98 | 181 | 80 | 246 | 29 | 128 | 30 | 251 | 56 | 117 | 94 | 51 | 81 | 77 | 189 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 17 | WNW 6 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 25 | 23 | 112 | 90 | 130 | 217 | 197 | 255 | 107 | 173 | 18 | 125 | 126 | 248 | 245 | 37 | 134 | 169 | 167 | 48 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 21 | 154 | 35 | 14 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Imperial Pier (North and South) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Imperial Pier (North and South) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Imperial Pier (North and South) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Imperial Pier (North and South) 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 Pier (North and South)) 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 Pier (North and South) 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 Pier (North and South) 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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