Surf Forecasts:
Ponto surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 402 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s 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 Ponto in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. 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+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ponto over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the cards for the little stretch of coast around Ponto.
The outlook is a pretty quiet one overall. The wave energy is really low for the first ten days or so, with the combined energy mostly sitting in the low hundreds (around 359 to 546), which is weak. The swell direction is from the SSW, which isn't the optimum for this spot – Ponto prefers a good SW, so that's a bit of a mismatch. The good news is that the water is running much warmer than normal for this time of year, at 72.7°, a solid 4.7° above the average, so you won't need the thickest wetsuit.
The initial run from Monday 17th August through to the end of the month is pretty disappointing. The swell is small, mostly in the 1.6 ft to 3.0 ft range, and the period is often short, between 14 and 16 seconds, which doesn’t pack much punch. The wind is often onshore or cross-onshore, creating a bit of chop. It's very flat, very small, and not really worth a paddle. We’re looking at a solid 10-12 days of poor to marginal conditions.
Now, the first real standout and the best bet of the entire window is shaping up for the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September. The combined energy jumps to a strong 1082 and 1124, which is a big step up. The swell size increases to a solid 4.3 ft to 4.6 ft from the SSW, with a decent period of 16 to 18 seconds. This is a groundswell. The wind is forecast to be light and offshore on the Saturday afternoon and through Sunday, which is golden. That will clean up the river mouth nicely. This is a bit far out, so it’s more of a promising look than a sure thing, but if it holds, this is the session to aim for. The wave quality might still be a little marginal with the direction, but the size and clean wind make it the best on offer.
Ponto is a river mouth spot, so it’s exposed to the open coast. It’s a beginner-friendly break, fairly consistent, and tends to be a bit crowded. Given the rest of the forecast, this is the only window worth mentioning.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | 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 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 264 | 257 | 232 | 243 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 123 | 218 | 177 | 155 | 269 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:35AM1.37m | 1:41PM1.88m | 3:23AM1.21m | 2:33PM1.82m | 3:47PM1.79m | 8:25AM1.36m | 5:06PM1.83m | 8:27AM1.43m | 6:08PM1.91m | 8:41AM1.49m | 6:56PM2.01m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:51PM0.79m | 6:46AM0.96m | 9:15PM0.81m | 7:01AM1.12m | 10:59PM0.76m | 00:19AM0.65m | 10:08AM1.35m | 1:10AM0.54m | 11:57AM1.32m | 1:47AM0.43m | 12:51PM1.24m | 2:18AM0.34m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | 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 |
| kJ | 264 | 257 | 37 | 39 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 123 | 218 | 137 | 135 | 269 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 12 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | W 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 63 | 31 | 232 | 243 | 39 | 58 | 29 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 44 | 81 | 51 | 51 | 81 | 89 | 30 | 177 | 155 | 199 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WSW 19 | S 10 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 5 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | 114 | 98 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 57 | 35 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 49 | 8 | 7 | 58 | 86 | 84 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 0 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 53 | 54 | 0 | 31 | 122 | 0 | 109 | 54 | 0 | 53 | 54 | 0 | 54 | 54 | 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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