Surf Forecasts:
Imperial Pier (North and South) surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with 1,009 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 1.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Imperial Pier (North and South) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this outlook for the Imperial Pier area is a tough one. Over the next 16 days, we’re looking at a long stretch of onshore or cross-onshore winds and only marginal, often poor, surf. The wave energy is there in pulses, but the quality is lacking. The setup is mostly a beach, and with these conditions, it might be more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfing for the majority of the window. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendation to get excited about.
The best of a pretty average bunch looks to be around Friday, September 4th. Saturday morning, August 28th, kicks things off with a small 2ft swell from the SW at a very long 16 seconds, with a light offshore wind. The water temperature is 73°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – over 5° warmer, so you won't need a thick suit. The combined swell energy is moderate. The morning of Friday, September 4th is another to keep an eye on, with a 4ft SW swell (16 seconds) and light offshore winds from the WNW. The combined energy is building, moderate but with a bit more push. The period is long, so the waves will be better formed and have more grunt, but at a beach break like Imperial Pier, that long period can make em' a bit straight. Still, with the light offshore, it should be the cleanest option on offer. If you’re a beginner, the biggest stuff later into the window (like 5ft on Thursday, September 3rd) is getting into challenging territory, especially with the onshore winds chopping it up.
Overall, keep your expectations low. It’s not a total washout, but you’ll have to pick your windows carefully.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 211 | 1009 | 602 | 788 | 740 | 530 | 431 | 325 | 290 | 216 | 156 | 156 | 183 | 461 | 461 | 454 | 734 | 727 | 523 | 587 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:58PM1.73m | 10:41AM1.54m | 10:33PM1.62m | 11:07AM1.60m | 11:12PM1.47m | 11:35AM1.64m | 11:57PM1.28m | 12:08PM1.65m | 00:56AM1.07m | 12:49PM1.63m | 2:35AM0.90m | 1:49PM1.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:53PM0.40m | 4:27AM0.02m | 4:31PM0.34m | 4:51AM0.13m | 5:12PM0.30m | 5:14AM0.27m | 6:00PM0.30m | 5:37AM0.43m | 6:59PM0.31m | 6:00AM0.60m | 8:19PM0.33m | 6:22AM0.77m | 10:05PM0.29m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 69 | 1009 | 602 | 788 | 740 | 238 | 191 | 172 | 105 | 216 | 146 | 146 | 183 | 461 | 461 | 454 | 734 | 727 | 493 | 481 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 14 | WNW 6 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SW 15 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 211 | 41 | 69 | 97 | 173 | 530 | 431 | 325 | 290 | 163 | 33 | 156 | 104 | 152 | 211 | 264 | 17 | 14 | 523 | 587 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | S 15 | SW 20 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 142 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 80 | 106 | 161 | 253 | 56 | 156 | 50 | 80 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 100 | 25 | 24 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 60 | 41 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 14 | 15 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 240 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
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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