Surf Forecasts:
La Jolla Cove surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 353 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for La Jolla Cove this week:
The most powerful waves expected at La Jolla Cove in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 14s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for La Jolla Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s talk about the Cove. To be honest, the next week and a half is looking pretty slim for any real surf. We’ve got a lot of weak, short-period swell and a cross-onshore wind that’s going to keep things bumpy. There are waves, sure, but nothing worth rushing out for.
The good news is there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Around September 11th and 12th, a longer-period swell from the southwest shows up on the forecast. The wind looks like it turns light and cross-offshore, which should put La Jolla Cove in a good spot. This is the window to circle on your calendar. It’s still a bit far out, so it’s a ‘promising’ rather than a ‘lock’, but it has the makings of the best surf we’ve seen in this stretch.
Before that, on September 7th, there’s a morning with glassy conditions and some swell from the NW. But it’s short-period stuff, around 1.3m, and the overall call is poor surf. A chance for a paddle, sure, but not a day to get stoked about.
The main takeaway? We’ve got a long stretch of small, onshore junk to sit through. The water is running super warm, around 24° and well above the average for this time of year, so you won’t need much rubber while you’re waiting.
Don’t burn your energy on the small stuff. Save it for that Friday and Saturday, September 11th and 12th. That’s when the Cove might just turn it on.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat night, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | WNW 7 | SW 19 | SW 19 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 4 | WNW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 75 | 56 | 57 | 36 | 48 | 152 | 132 | 129 | 62 | 196 | 68 | 62 | 96 | 50 | 33 | 40 | 43 | 33 | 26 | 20 | 31 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:32AM1.65m | 11:54PM1.27m | 12:05PM1.67m | 00:55AM1.06m | 12:47PM1.67m | 2:36AM0.89m | 1:44PM1.64m | 3:09PM1.63m | 7:22AM1.02m | 4:44PM1.68m | 7:45AM1.14m | 6:01PM1.78m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 5:59PM0.30m | 5:35AM0.43m | 6:59PM0.30m | 5:59AM0.60m | 8:20PM0.30m | 6:22AM0.75m | 10:05PM0.25m | 11:38PM0.12m | 9:52AM0.98m | 00:42AM-0.03m | 11:47AM0.90m | 1:30AM-0.14m | |||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 45 | 17 |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | WNW 6 | SSW 13 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 15 | S 15 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 314 | 280 | 151 | 146 | 102 | 58 | 48 | 242 | 62 | 96 | 553 | 644 | 692 | 717 | 596 | 627 | 1063 | 1504 | 1907 | 2119 | 2488 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | 75 | 161 | 156 | 36 | 114 | 90 | 189 | 129 | 153 | 125 | 55 | 62 | 96 | 50 | 674 | 512 | 512 | 362 | 339 | 275 | 31 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 8 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSE 15 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 208 | 56 | 57 | 116 | 80 | 152 | 132 | 5 | 309 | 196 | 33 | 76 | 53 | 300 | 33 | 40 | 43 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 283 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 4 | — |
| kJ | — | 51 | 31 | — | 48 | 39 | — | 46 | — | — | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | 26 | 20 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 2 | 21 | 190 | 3 | 149 | 21 | 2 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 20 | 63 | 68 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the La Jolla Cove Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for La Jolla Cove provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at La Jolla Cove can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our La Jolla Cove 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 (La Jolla Cove) 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 La Jolla Cove 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.
La Jolla Cove is 10 km (6 miles) from San Diego. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Diego. San Diego has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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