Surf Forecasts:
Oceanside Harbor surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 387 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Oceanside Harbor this week:
The surf forecast for Oceanside Harbor over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s 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 Oceanside Harbor in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5PM. 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+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Oceanside Harbor over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a 16-day window for Oceanside Harbor, and I’ll be honest with you – it’s a pretty flat spell for the most part. The first real surf worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Tuesday, August 18th, and even then, it’s a grind.
Overall Pattern:
We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions. For the first week and a half, the swell is tiny, the energy is low, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, so the surface is going to be a bit of a washing machine. The water is a notable 72°F right now, which is 4°F warmer than the long-term average for this time of year – that’s much warmer than normal, so the summer water temp is definitely a bonus even if the waves aren’t.
The Period:
Starting Tuesday afternoon, August 18th, we see a 2ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 17 seconds. The combined energy is weak (382). It’s a groundswell, which is a good sign, but the wind is a cross-on 9 mph from the W, making it choppy. The general comment is "poor surf conditions." Not a great start, but it’s the first rideable bump.
Wednesday, August 19th, shows a slight improvement. Morning and afternoon both have 3ft SSW swell, still with that long 16-second period, but the wind drops to a light 6 mph. The morning is cross-onshore, but the afternoon flips to onshore. The energy is still moderate (435 and 420). The call is "marginal surf" – we’re looking at small, clean-ish waves but nothing to get excited about.
Thursday, August 20th, through the following Monday, August 24th, is a real rough patch. Swell heights dip to 2ft-3ft, periods drop to 13-15 seconds, and the combined energy falls into the 190-300 range. The wind is light, but either cross-onshore or onshore. The verdict is "poor surf conditions" or "marginal" at best. You’d be better off checking the water temperature and having a swim.
The One Standout:
The best window of the whole forecast is the final weekend. Saturday, August 29th, and Sunday, August 30th, finally show a pulse. Saturday morning has a 4ft swell from the SSW, period of 17 seconds, and a combined energy of 792 – that’s moderate but pushing into the upper end. The wind is light onshore in the morning, but the swell is there. Saturday afternoon sees 4ft from the SSW, period of 16 seconds, and energy of 784, with a light cross-onshore breeze. Both are "marginal surf forecast," but given the size bump and the long-period groundswell, this is the best we’ve got. The break is a beach/jetty setup, so it’s exposed, but the long period might make it a bit tricky, with gaps between sets. It’s advanced-level surf, so paddle out ready.
Sunday, August 30th, holds similar size (4ft) with a 15-second period and energy in the 525-546 range. The wind is a bit better, turning onshore in the afternoon with a light breeze. This is your second-best call.
The Setup:
Oceanside Harbor is a beach/jetty break, and it’s very consistent, but it’s also exposed to the swell. The optimum swell direction is W, and we’re getting SSW and SW, so it’s not ideal. Crowds are often a factor here, so expect company. The break is rated for advanced surfers, which makes sense because the small stuff isn’t great for beginners, and when it gets to 4ft-4ft, it’s still manageable for most, but not a learner wave.
Summary:
Look, if you’re desperate, you can get wet on the 18th and 19th, but it’s small. The real hope is the weekend of the 29th of August. That’s your best shot for a decent, clean-ish wave, but it’s still a "marginal" call. There’s a big gap of several days with no recommendations from the 20th to the 28th. Don’t get your hopes up for anything epic. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a long, slow, flat spell with a brief, modest pulse at the very end.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
243 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 177 | 155 | 269 | 197 | 179 | 273 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:24AM1.21m | 2:34PM1.82m | 3:47PM1.80m | 8:25AM1.36m | 5:06PM1.83m | 8:27AM1.43m | 6:08PM1.91m | 8:41AM1.49m | 6:56PM2.01m | 8:58AM1.55m | 7:35PM2.10m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 9:16PM0.81m | 7:02AM1.12m | 10:59PM0.76m | 00:19AM0.65m | 10:09AM1.35m | 1:10AM0.54m | 11:57AM1.32m | 1:47AM0.43m | 12:51PM1.24m | 2:18AM0.34m | 1:31PM1.14m | 2:46AM0.27m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 |
41 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 137 | 135 | 269 | 197 | 179 | 273 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | SW 18 | W 6 | SSW 16 | W 7 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 |
243 | 37 | 42 | 29 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 81 | 6 | 51 | 23 | 58 | 6 | 177 | 155 | 199 | 89 | 16 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WSW 19 | S 10 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 6 | SW 19 | W 6 | SSW 16 | WSW 5 | W 6 | SSW 12 | S 13 |
98 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 57 | 35 | 8 | 6 | 51 | 49 | 81 | 12 | 58 | 18 | 84 | 8 | 15 | 85 | 126 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 0 | 68 | 226 | 9 | 46 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 101 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Oceanside Harbor Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Oceanside Harbor provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Oceanside Harbor can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Oceanside Harbor 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 (Oceanside Harbor) 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 Oceanside Harbor 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.
Oceanside Harbor is 8 km (5 miles) from the city of Oceanside. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Oceanside. Oceanside has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











