
Surf Forecasts:
Ponto surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,364 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ponto this week:
The surf forecast for Ponto over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ponto in the next 16 days are 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. 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+) | 11PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ponto over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, but this time in feet and miles. Let's break it down.
Right off the bat, the outlook for Ponto over the next couple of weeks is a bit of a tough one. We've got a pulse of moderate energy rolling in for the first few days, but the wind and the conditions are going to keep things pretty average. After that initial pulse, it's looking like a long, drawn-out lull, so don't get your hopes up too high.
Our best bet in the whole window is Sunday morning, the 6th of September. There's some solid, clean energy in the water at Ponto (river) – we're looking at waves in the 6ft range from the south with a period of 14 seconds. The combined swell energy is reading at 1330, so there's some proper push behind it. The water is notably warm, sitting at about 73°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year. The wind is a cross-off from the NNW, which is a big tick in the 'plus' column for keeping things smooth. It’s not perfect – the score is marginal – but it's the best on offer. Just a heads up, this spot can get crowded often, so get in early. The swell size is okay for most, but at nearly 6ft, beginners might find it a bit of a handful.
Sunday afternoon drops off slightly to about 5ft from the south, but the wind picks up to 19 mph from the NNE. It's still a cross-off, but that breeze is going to make things a bit more challenging.
Monday the 7th sees the swell holding around 6ft, but the wind shifts to a cross-on from the WNW. It's already making things choppy, and the energy has dropped to 1099. By Monday afternoon, the conditions are looking poor, and the combined energy is down to 959.
From Tuesday the 8th onwards, it's a steady decline. The swell drops, the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy numbers tumble. We're looking at days of small, weak, and messy surf. There's a stretch from about Wednesday the 9th through to the middle of the following week where the swell just doesn't have the size or the quality to get excited about.
Things get really small and weak from the 12th onwards, with combined energy readings dropping into the hundreds, and some days dipping below 200. The swell direction hangs around the SW, and the periods get long – up to 20 seconds on the 15th – but there's just not enough height to make it worthwhile. That long-period, small swell is a bit of a tease for a river mouth like Ponto; it tends to straighten out.
From around the 16th through to the 21st, we see a very slight uptick in energy, but it's all marginal. The swell hangs around 2ft to 3ft from the SW with long periods. The wind is light and sometimes onshore, so conditions might be okay for a small board, but it's not going to be the kind of day you mark on the calendar.
Honestly, this forecast is a tough one. If you're a beginner, the size might be okay on the smaller days, but the quality just isn't there. For the more experienced crew, there's really only that Sunday morning that's worth looking at. After that, it's a blank run of poor surf for a solid week or more. This kind of flat spell isn't unusual for the area, but it still stings.
So, to sum it up: Sunday morning, 6th of September, at Ponto is the standout. Get it while you can. The rest of the forecast is a waiting game. Keep an eye on the forecasts – they can change – but as it stands, it's a quiet couple of weeks ahead.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Sun afternoon, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1225 | 737 | 694 | 1025 | 890 | 615 | 690 | 256 | 190 | 173 | 278 | 419 | 547 | 502 | 483 | 400 | 360 | 309 | 214 | 164 | 239 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:01PM2.14m | 8:09AM1.64m | 7:00PM2.24m | 8:37AM1.76m | 7:51PM2.29m | 9:05AM1.87m | 8:37PM2.28m | 9:33AM1.98m | 9:21PM2.20m | 10:01AM2.05m | 10:03PM2.06m | 10:28AM2.09m | 10:46PM1.88m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:49AM1.23m | 1:27AM0.18m | 12:55PM1.08m | 2:07AM0.11m | 1:47PM0.90m | 2:43AM0.10m | 2:34PM0.74m | 3:15AM0.16m | 3:17PM0.61m | 3:46AM0.28m | 4:00PM0.53m | 4:14AM0.43m | 4:43PM0.49m | 4:40AM0.61m | |||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 |
1225 | 737 | 694 | 1025 | 890 | 615 | 690 | 256 | 190 | 139 | 278 | 419 | 547 | 502 | 483 | 400 | 360 | 309 | 92 | 83 | 239 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 4 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SW 9 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
15 | 525 | 505 | 57 | 56 | 9 | 81 | 195 | 101 | 173 | 83 | 19 | 25 | 27 | 69 | 94 | 35 | 54 | 214 | 164 | 162 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | W 12 | — | — | W 11 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SW 18 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | S 11 | SW 6 | S 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | S 9 |
15 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 51 | 18 | 112 | 11 | 98 | 85 | 57 | 41 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 41 | 34 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 4 | — | W 5 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
75 | 45 | 38 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 9 | — | 8 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 7 | 47 | 47 | 54 | 37 | 47 | 53 | 0 | 54 | 87 | 81 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 109 | 109 | 6 | 109 | 101 | 31 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ponto Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ponto provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ponto can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ponto 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 (Ponto) 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 Ponto 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.
Ponto is 2 km (1 miles) from the city of Carlsbad. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Carlsbad. Carlsbad has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










