Surf Forecasts:
La Jolla Cove surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period, SW swell with 1,100 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for La Jolla Cove this week:
The surf forecast for La Jolla Cove over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 19s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at La Jolla Cove in the next 16 days are 1.2m 19s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 14s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for La Jolla Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Lookin’ at the next 16 days for La Jolla Cove, I gotta be straight with you – it’s pretty grim. There’s no decent surf on the cards at all. The whole stretch from Monday 20 July right through to Tuesday 4 August is basically a write‑off. Water temp is sitting at 73°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a bath, but that’s about the only highlight.
The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, with weak energy (most days showing combined energy values under 100, and even the bigger ones barely nudge 200). Winds are stubbornly cross‑onshore from the W or WNW, keeping everything choppy and messy. The only flicker of something different is on Saturday 25 July afternoon, when a long‑period groundswell (20 sec) brings wave energy up to 672 – that’s a solid pulse – but the wave height is still only 3 ft, and the wind is still cross‑onshore. The forecast calls it marginal, so it’s not worth paddling out for. The break itself is a reef and point that works best with NW swell, but we’re getting mostly WNW and SW, and the wind never turns offshore. For a beginner spot that’s usually consistent, it’s a real bummer.
With a gap of over two weeks with no good options, it’s a time to hang the board up and wait. Forecasts can always shift, but right now there’s nothing to get excited about.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 20°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | SW 16 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | SW 12 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SW 19 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 | SW 20 | SW 19 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 367 | 40 | 40 | 65 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 130 | 55 | 66 | 104 | 94 | 70 | 57 | 65 | 610 | 1100 | 62 | 45 | 47 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:05PM1.48m | 3:37AM0.92m | 3:58PM1.50m | 5:57AM0.86m | 4:54PM1.53m | 7:48AM0.93m | 5:48PM1.57m | 8:42AM1.01m | 6:36PM1.63m | 9:14AM1.06m | 7:19PM1.70m | 9:38AM1.10m | 7:57PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:06AM0.41m | 10:06PM0.52m | 8:46AM0.60m | 11:41PM0.40m | 9:39AM0.76m | 00:51AM0.25m | 10:53AM0.86m | 1:41AM0.12m | 12:05PM0.89m | 2:19AM0.02m | 1:00PM0.87m | 2:52AM-0.05m | 1:41PM0.83m | 3:22AM-0.11m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | W 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 284 | 231 | 691 | 806 | 474 | 551 | 437 | 394 | 1036 | 905 | 794 | 663 | 94 | 507 | 392 | 298 | 317 | 1100 | 855 | 727 | 719 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | S 10 | WNW 14 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 15 | S 14 | SW 19 | WNW 6 | SW 26 | W 6 | S 12 | WNW 6 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | W 7 |
| kJ | 419 | 367 | 120 | 40 | 46 | 27 | 165 | 394 | 130 | 55 | 171 | 104 | 280 | 70 | 799 | 799 | 610 | 256 | 151 | 154 | 47 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 14 | SSE 14 | SW 12 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 18 | SW 26 | SW 24 | SSW 24 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 8 | 9 | 40 | 40 | 65 | 18 | 34 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 49 | 171 | 563 | 368 | 57 | 65 | 62 | 45 | 62 | 45 | 103 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 43 | — | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 127 | 68 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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