La Jolla Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.85° N 117.27° W

La Jolla Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's La Jolla Cove sea temperature is
22.1° C
2.9° 

La Jolla Cove surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


La Jolla Cove surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 493 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at La Jolla Cove in the next 16 days are 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) 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 1.5m 13s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 16th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 16s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 16th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sun 19th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for La Jolla Cove over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s ahead for La Jolla Cove. The water temp is running much warmer than normal for July, sitting at 72°, so if you’re heading out, a spring suit or maybe just a top is all you need.

Right now, we are starting with a frustratingly quiet stretch. Honestly, the first week and a half is a write-off for any decent waves. Wednesday the 15th kicks off with tiny 2ft swell from the SW at a super long 17 seconds, but there’s a light cross-onshore breeze messing it up and the energy reading is low at 161. The whole day is just poor surf conditions. Thursday the 16th picks up a little with knee-high 3ft WNW swell and clean winds, but it’s still considered a marginal forecast. This pattern of tiny, weak swell and iffy conditions just hangs around day after day. Saturday the 18th morning shows a glimmer with 3ft SW swell and a strong combined energy for this size—up at 392—and clean offshore winds, but it's still only called "good" not "great" and the swell remains small. That feeling of hope fades fast as Sunday and Monday drop right back into the gutter with tiny waves and cross-onshore breezes.

Standout Action: The real story here is in the second week. You’ve gotta be patient.

Mark your calendar for Monday the 27th of July. That morning is the standout of the whole 16-day run. We’re looking at 4ft of clean, long-period SW groundswell with a 18-second period, generating some serious energy (934). The wind is offshore (cross-off) from the SSW at 9 mph, so the surface will be clean as a whistle. This is expert friendly and possibly too big for beginners, but for everyone else, this is the dawn patrol session to chase.

Tuesday the 28th of July is nearly a mirror image and almost as good. Morning sees the same 4ft SW groundswell, 17-second period, and again the energy is huge (880) with clean, cross-off winds. The quality holds through Tuesday afternoon as well, so you have a solid 12-hour window of really good waves.

Before that, the week leading up is mostly just dribbly leftovers. Friday the 24th has 2ft SW swell at a wild 24-second period, but the energy is all over the place and the winds are onshore, so it really doesn’t fire.

So here’s the bottom line: a massive gap of up to 12 days of mostly “poor surf” conditions before that solid morning of proper groundswell on the 27th. It’s a desert then a sudden oasis. Keep your eyes on that forecast, because once that big SW energy arrives, La Jolla Cove could be firing for the crew who paddle out early on Monday and Tuesday.

Stay patient, get out there on the 27th, and let’s hope it holds together.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
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
1
1
1
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
1
WNW
8
1.1
W
9
0.5
SW
19
0.5
SW
19
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.8
SW
18
0.8
SW
18
0.4
WNW
16
0.8
SW
17
0.4
WNW
15
0.9
SW
16
0.4
WNW
15
0.5
W
6
0.9
WNW
5
0.8
WNW
6
0.8
WNW
6
1.1
W
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
148
167
161
123
186
177
181
132
130
370
379
83
350
77
371
71
15
39
51
53
100
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
SW
10
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
S
20
S
15
SSW
10
S
15
SSW
15
SW
5
SW
15
WSW
15
W
5
WSW
15
W
15
WNW
10
W
15
W
10
WSW
5
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
11:24AM1.28m
10:25PM2.06m
12:05PM1.33m
11:13PM1.89m
12:46PM1.38m
00:02AM1.65m
1:30PM1.42m
00:55AM1.38m
2:16PM1.45m
2:00AM1.12m
3:05PM1.48m
3:37AM0.92m
3:58PM1.50m
Low Tide
4:11PM0.57m
5:35AM-0.36m
5:06PM0.56m
6:14AM-0.21m
6:05PM0.57m
6:52AM-0.02m
7:12PM0.59m
7:29AM0.19m
8:31PM0.58m
8:06AM0.41m
10:06PM0.52m
8:46AM0.60m
11:41PM0.40m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:58
7:57
7:57
7:57
7:55
7:55
7:54
 mm
Temp °C
22
22
21
21
21
21
21
21
20
20
21
20
21
21
20
21
21
20
21
21
21
Feels °C
23
21
22
21
19
21
19
19
19
21
20
21
20
20
20
21
20
20
20
20
22
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  • 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 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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