Surf Forecasts:
Ocean Beach Pier surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 287 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ocean Beach Pier this week:
The surf forecast for Ocean Beach Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ocean Beach Pier in the next 16 days are 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ocean Beach Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Gather 'round, crew. Rusty here. Let's be straight with you—this is a tough stretch for Ocean Beach Pier. We've got a 16-day window staring at us, and honestly, it's a long, flat, and frustrating run. The swell is tiny, the wind is rarely doing us any favors, and the scores are just not there. There's a real gap of several days where you're better off doing something else. We're looking at a whole lot of "poor surf conditions" and "marginal" calls. The only flicker of hope comes right at the very end, but it's a long wait.
Right now, starting Wednesday the 19th of August, we're in a lull. The swell is a measly 3ft from the SW with a long period of 16 seconds, but it's a weak, messy groundswell with moderate energy (384). The wind is blowing onshore from the WNW at 9 mph, which is just going to chop it up. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 71°, about 2° above average for this time of year, so it's comfortable, but there's nothing to ride. This continues through the week. Thursday and Friday, the swell drops even further to 2ft, with periods dropping to 13 seconds, and we're dealing with a light cross-onshore breeze. The energy is weak (246 on Friday morning). It's just not surfable.
The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd is more of the same—tiny, weak, onshore wind. The swell is barely 2ft, and the energy is pathetic (126 on Saturday morning). Don't bother. The following week, from Monday the 24th through to the end of August, it's a flat, hopeless pattern. We're seeing 2ft to 2ft of SW swell with periods around 16-18 seconds, but the energy values are in the moderate 300s, and the wind is always onshore or cross-onshore from the west or northwest. It's a constant state of "poor surf conditions."
Now, the only thing that even gets a pulse is on the far side of this forecast. On Saturday, the 29th of August, the swell finally bumps up to 3ft from the SW with a period of 17 seconds, giving us a strong energy reading of 677. The wind is still onshore from the WNW at 9 mph in the morning, shifting to cross-onshore in the afternoon. It's marginal, but it's the biggest we've seen. Then Sunday the 30th holds at 4ft from the SW with 15 seconds, moderate energy (580), and lighter winds. This is the best on offer, but it's a long way off and far from perfect. Ocean Beach Pier is an exposed beach-and-reef setup, and it needs clean conditions. With onshore wind, it'll be a bit of a mess even with the increase in size. For a beginner, 4ft is still manageable, but the onshore wind will make it lumpy.
If you're desperate, maybe the very end of the month, the 31st of August, has a chance with 3ft from the SSW and a cross-shore wind, but it's still marginal. The rest of the first week of September is a return to the tiny, weak stuff. There's nothing here to get excited about. The break is consistent, but with this forecast, it's consistently small and poor. For the kitesurfers out there, the consistent onshore wind and small, weak swell might actually be more interesting than for us paddlers, but for a surf, this is a blank run.
Honestly, it's a tough break. The forecasts can change, so don't throw your board in the bin just yet, but as it stands, this is a long, hard wait for a below-average chance at a wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
291 | 291 | 217 | 211 | 211 | 153 | 142 | 84 | 84 | 52 | 142 | 220 | 173 | 154 | 233 | 252 | 135 | 222 | 216 | 206 | 203 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:42PM1.44m | 4:01PM1.41m | 8:36AM1.01m | 5:25PM1.44m | 8:33AM1.09m | 6:27PM1.53m | 8:44AM1.15m | 7:14PM1.64m | 8:58AM1.21m | 7:51PM1.73m | 9:16AM1.27m | 8:25PM1.80m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 10:58PM0.45m | 00:31AM0.34m | 10:06AM1.00m | 1:23AM0.21m | 12:09PM0.96m | 2:00AM0.11m | 1:04PM0.87m | 2:30AM0.03m | 1:42PM0.76m | 2:56AM-0.02m | 2:16PM0.65m | 3:21AM-0.06m | |||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 7 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | WNW 6 |
77 | 61 | 38 | 211 | 211 | 153 | 142 | 84 | 84 | 23 | 142 | 220 | 29 | 154 | 233 | 252 | 111 | 222 | 51 | 206 | 58 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | SW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SW 16 |
291 | 291 | 217 | 28 | 27 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 12 | 51 | 20 | 18 | 114 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 135 | 139 | 216 | 96 | 203 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | S 8 | W 14 | SW 19 | W 13 | WNW 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WNW 11 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | W 11 | SSW 13 | W 18 | SSW 12 |
16 | 1 | 14 | 57 | 13 | 27 | 82 | 73 | 23 | 52 | 37 | 94 | 173 | 152 | 155 | 120 | 42 | 9 | 98 | 24 | 89 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | — | WNW 6 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 43 | — | 48 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 134 | 9 | 0 | 134 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ocean Beach Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ocean Beach Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ocean Beach Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ocean Beach Pier 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 (Ocean Beach Pier) 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 Ocean Beach Pier 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.
Ocean Beach Pier is 10 km (6 miles) from the very large city of Coronado. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Coronado. Coronado has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.











