Surf Forecasts:
Oceanside Harbor surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with 978 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Oceanside Harbor over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the Oceanside Harbor area.
Honestly, the next week and a half is looking pretty flat and pretty sad. A real bummer of a stretch. We’re looking at a long gap of poor conditions starting right now and dragging on through the end of August. The water is hangin’ in there at 71°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least a dip will feel good even if the waves don’t.
From Thursday the 20th all the way through Tuesday the 1st of September, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Swell heights are stuck between 2 ft and 3 ft, mostly from the SSW, with a weak combined energy that’s barely scraping into the 100-300 range. The wind is a mix of light onshore and cross-onshore breezes, which just messes up what little bump there is. The wave comment keeps calling it “poor” or “marginal,” and honestly, there’s nothing here worth paddling out for. It’s a long, dry spell.
Now, there’s a bit of a flicker of life around the 26th and 27th of August. The swell starts to push a little, with heights hitting 4 ft to 5 ft. The combined energy kicks up into the 700-800 range, which is moderate, but the wind is still cross-onshore from the W or SSW at 6-9 mph. It’s still described as marginal, and the jetty setup at Oceanside Harbor – a beach/jetty, exposed to the W – is a spot that needs clean conditions to shine. The swell is SSW, which is a bit off from the optimum W direction, so it’s not going to wrap in perfectly. Still, the long period (13-14 seconds) means there’s some energy in the water, but the cross-onshore wind will keep it a rough, bumpy mess. Not a standout, just a less-bad option.
The only real window that might have something turns up around the 3rd and 4th of September. On the morning of Thursday the 3rd, we’re looking at 4 ft of W swell, but with a period of only 8 seconds – that’s short-period, wind-driven junk. The combined energy is low-moderate at 356. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not clean. Then Friday the 4th of September, the swell flips back to SSW, 3 ft, but the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is moderate at 566. The wind is light and offshore from the SW, which is a major positive. This could actually be the best on offer. That long-period SSW groundswell, with light offshore wind, might clean up the jetty and produce some fun, lined-up waves. The caveat is that a long period like that can be a bit walled-up at a beach/jetty, but with the wind clean, it’s worth a look. Crowds are often a factor at this spot, so expect company.
But let’s be real: the whole 16-day window is a grind. The pick of the litter is Friday the 4th of September. The morning’s 3 ft SSW swell with 18-second period and light offshore wind is the cleanest, most promising session we’ve got. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or just plain ugly.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
239 | 236 | 175 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 177 | 155 | 213 | 197 | 179 | 273 | 216 | 173 | 324 | 404 | 711 | 874 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 9:16AM1.61m | 8:10PM2.17m | 9:35AM1.68m | 8:44PM2.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:06PM1.04m | 3:12AM0.24m | 2:40PM0.94m | 3:36AM0.24m | ||||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 6 | S 13 | W 7 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
239 | 236 | 175 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 30 | 167 | 218 | 41 | 26 | 213 | 37 | 179 | 42 | 53 | 173 | 107 | 404 | 711 | 874 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | W 7 | W 14 | W 7 |
27 | 18 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 92 | 27 | 24 | 99 | 98 | 21 | 197 | 58 | 273 | 216 | 163 | 324 | 96 | 16 | 85 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | WSW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | W 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 14 | W 13 |
57 | 35 | 8 | 81 | 51 | 49 | 81 | 56 | 58 | 177 | 155 | 199 | 90 | 66 | 126 | 126 | 6 | 203 | 203 | 37 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | WNW 6 | — | W 7 | — | — | W 7 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | 58 | — | 72 | — | — | 74 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 32 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 7 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











