Surf Forecasts:
Oceanside Harbor surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with 953 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 1.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Oceanside Harbor over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at the surf window for the next couple of weeks.
Overall, it’s a slow start. We’ve got a run of days where the surf is just gutless and messy. The swell is small and the wind is mostly cross-onshore, chopping up what little push there is. It’s not gonna be worth paddling out for anything more than a quick splash to keep the rust off. This flat and weak spell looks set to last for the best part of a week, maybe even a bit longer. It’s a classic case of the ocean needing a breather, and we’re going to have to be patient. There are no real standouts in this whole run until we get to that last day of the forecast, and even that one, you've gotta take with a pinch of salt this far out.
Looking at Oceanside Harbor first, yeah the break is exposed and it picks up the west in the optimum direction, but the wind is mostly working against us. That spot is going to be a mess of small, cross-onshore dribble. The mornings on the 21st and 22nd are showing tiny waves, around `2ft` to `2ft`, with light wind but it’s still cross-onshore, and there’s barely enough energy to push you around. The onshore breeze kicks in a touch more in the afternoons, making it poor. This goes on for days, with the swell height barely moving and the energy staying weak, in the low hundreds.
Then we get a little pulse around the 26th and 27th. The swell jumps a bit, up to `5ft` from the south, and the energy is building to a moderate `948` and `1043`. But the conditions are still marginal, with that cross-onshore wind taking the shine off it. It’s still not great. The period is around 13 seconds, which is okay, but nothing special in these conditions.
It stays pretty average right through to the end of the month and into September. The swell comes and goes, sometimes down to `2ft`, sometimes up to `4ft`, but the wind just never cleans up. We're having to scrap for anything. The energy is moderate throughout, mostly in the `300` to `800` range, but the model keeps saying the surf is poor or marginal. It’s a frustrating stretch.
Now, the one glimmer of hope is the `4th of September`. The morning shows a big change. The wind swings around to the WNW at a light `3 mph`, and it's glassy. That’s what we want to hear. The swell is still small, around `3ft` from the SSW, but with a period of 17 seconds, it’s a proper groundswell. The energy is moderate at `435`, but the glassy conditions will make it look and feel ten times better. This is the standout of the window, but it’s a long way off, so you’d call it promising but far from certain. It’s a chance for some clean, lined-up waves at the Harbor, with the SSW swell. It’s not big, but on a glassy morning like that, it could be fun.
The afternoon of the 4th and into the 5th looks like the swell starts to fill in more, getting up to `6ft` from the south with a stronger `1386` energy, but the wind is due to swing back around to a cross-onshore, so it might get messy again. That morning of the 4th is the one to put a little star next to, it’s our best bet. But don’t go booking the time off work just yet, a lot can change in ten days. The rest of the window is a write-off, so if you’re desperate for a wave before then, bring the log and enjoy the small stuff. You win some, you lose some.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 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 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
175 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 177 | 155 | 213 | 197 | 179 | 273 | 216 | 171 | 526 | 683 | 563 | 953 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | ||||||
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 7 | S 13 | W 7 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 |
175 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 27 | 98 | 213 | 26 | 179 | 41 | 72 | 171 | 138 | 683 | 563 | 953 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 14 | W 7 | SSW 16 | W 7 |
10 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 99 | 155 | 199 | 197 | 58 | 273 | 216 | 163 | 526 | 108 | 397 | 81 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | W 5 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 7 | W 13 |
8 | 81 | 51 | 49 | 81 | 56 | 58 | 177 | 84 | 12 | 89 | 66 | 126 | 126 | 47 | 203 | 157 | 83 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | WNW 6 | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | 26 | 56 | — | 74 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 32 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 68 | 169 | 9 | 46 | 46 | 9 |
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.











