Surf Forecasts:
Ponto surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 405 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s period with SW 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s 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 1.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ponto over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty, and I've been staring at the charts for your local stretch. Let's be straight with each other: the next two weeks are a tough watch. We're looking at a long, drawn-out run of small, onshore, and generally poor surf. The first decent opportunity doesn't even pop up until Thursday the 17th, and even then, it's marginal at best.
For the first week, it's a write-off. From now through Wednesday the 16th, the wave energy is weak, hanging around the 190 to 412 (combined energy) mark, with most of it under 300. The wind is a constant problem – mostly cross-onshore or straight onshore – and the wave comment doesn't pull any punches: it's all "poor surf conditions." There's a lot of light breeze, but it's coming from the wrong direction, chopping up what little swell there is.
Finally, on Thursday the 17th, we see a bit of a pulse. The combined energy climbs to 525, with a 3ft SW swell at 16 seconds. That period is long, so the waves will have some push to them. The morning looks the best with a light offshore W wind, giving you the best chance of something clean. The call is "marginal," but a 1/10 score says it's still a struggle. This pattern of marginal, light-wind mornings holds through the weekend and into the following Monday the 21st. The combined energy builds nicely, reaching 632 on Monday the 21st, but the wind always seems to shift, keeping the quality down.
There's no standout best day here. If I had to pick a window, it's the mornings from Thursday the 17th through to Tuesday the 22nd of September. The energy is at its highest, and you'll get those occasional moments of glassy or light offshore conditions. But honestly, for Ponto, a river-mouth break, this is a classic "wait and see" scenario. The swell direction is from the SW, which is what it wants, but the size is tiny (2ft to 3ft), and the consistency is only "fairly consistent." For a beginner-friendly spot, this small, clean surf isn't a total loss, but the constant wind makes it a gamble.
After that, the last week of the outlook is a slow fade. Energy drops back below 350, and the period shortens up. There's a faint glimmer on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, but it's just more of the same – marginal at best.
So, keep your expectations low. The surf is small and the windows are tight. It’s a time for a longboard and a lot of patience.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 19 | W 10 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 160 | 89 | 131 | 188 | 119 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 127 | 114 | 386 | 347 | 366 | 284 | 246 | 405 | 303 | 303 | 234 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:46PM1.88m | 10:56AM2.09m | 11:29PM1.68m | 11:24AM2.06m | 00:18AM1.49m | 11:53AM1.99m | 1:22AM1.32m | 12:27PM1.89m | 3:51AM1.22m | 1:13PM1.79m | 2:35PM1.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:40AM0.61m | 5:27PM0.50m | 5:04AM0.79m | 6:13PM0.56m | 5:24AM0.96m | 7:08PM0.64m | 5:36AM1.11m | 8:22PM0.72m | 5:03AM1.22m | 10:05PM0.73m | 11:35PM0.67m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 8 | W 10 | WSW 7 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | W 6 |
| kJ | 160 | 43 | 43 | 188 | 119 | 121 | 36 | 57 | 58 | 88 | 386 | 347 | 366 | 284 | 246 | 405 | 183 | 303 | 35 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 14 | 89 | 87 | 85 | 108 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 122 | 32 | 11 | 9 | 64 | 81 | 67 | 156 | 303 | 141 | 101 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SW 21 | SW 21 | NW 11 | W 5 | S 11 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 14 | 58 | 131 | 129 | 44 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 127 | 114 | 15 | 15 | 26 | 160 | 162 | 5 | 9 | 36 | 234 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 15 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 31 | 54 | 6 | 109 | 122 | 6 | 109 | 54 | 0 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 53 | 53 | 0 |
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.
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