
Surf Forecasts:
Rockpile surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 476 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rockpile this week:
The surf forecast for Rockpile over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rockpile in the next 16 days are 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockpile over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on offer for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, looking at the whole run, it's a pretty quiet and messy picture for the region. The water is sitting at 73° at the start, which is about 5° warmer than normal for this time of year – that's a notable warm patch. The wave energy is moderate, hitting the 400s (combined energy of 400) at times, but the quality just isn't there.
The best of a not-so-great bunch is going to be Rockpile, a consistent reef break that works best with swell out of the southwest. The real highlight, if you can call it that, is the early part of the week, specifically Monday the 14th. We've got a 4ft swell from the west, which is close but not perfect for the optimum SW direction. The wind is onshore from the SSW at 9 mph, which is a bit of a bummer, keeping things a little messy. The wave comment says "poor surf conditions," so don't expect any gems. This is a beginner-friendly spot, so the small, weak swell might be okay for a learner paddle, but it's nothing to write home about.
Tuesday the 15th sees the swell drop right off. We're looking at a tiny 2ft on the morning and 1ft in the afternoon, even with a long period (20 seconds) on the afternoon. That long period is great for a point or reef, but with that size, it's going to be flat and fat. The wind stays onshore, so it's a no-go.
Wednesday the 16th through the 17th offers some slightly bigger pulse, with 3ft on Wednesday morning and a moderate combined energy of 402. The swell is from the SW with a 17-second period, which is a nice long groundswell. However, the wind turns cross-onshore from the W and WNW, which will add some chop. It's still "poor surf conditions" all the way.
Thursday the 17th afternoon is the closest we get to anything decent. The combined energy jumps to 535 with a 3ft SW swell and 15-second period. The wind is cross-shore from the WNW at 9 mph, which is better than onshore. The comment says "marginal surf forecast," and that's about right. It's rideable, but you'll be working for it. This is the most likely time to get a wave, but keep expectations low.
From Friday the 18th right through to the end of the run, it's a steady diet of small swell (2ft to 3ft) and persistent cross-onshore or onshore winds. The period fluctuates, but the overall energy stays in the moderate range. The crowd factor is listed as "often" at Rockpile, so you might have company, but given the quality, it might not be busy. Honestly, for a stretch of about 10 days, from the 18th to the 29th, it's all "poor" or "marginal" with no real standout.
Because the swell stays small and the winds are messy, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The onshore and cross-onshore wind at a beach setup just isn't doing us any favors.
Stay patient, folks. The forecasts can always change, but for now, it's a quiet period.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 8 | W 10 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
190 | 183 | 147 | 161 | 149 | 121 | 358 | 254 | 367 | 284 | 255 | 214 | 303 | 303 | 183 | 379 | 370 | 375 | 370 | 449 | 354 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:24AM1.73m | 00:14AM1.20m | 11:53AM1.66m | 1:14AM1.02m | 12:24PM1.56m | 3:12AM0.90m | 1:08PM1.45m | 2:38PM1.36m | 8:01AM1.12m | 4:32PM1.37m | 7:51AM1.18m | 5:46PM1.46m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 6:28PM0.21m | 5:45AM0.61m | 7:21PM0.29m | 5:56AM0.77m | 8:32PM0.38m | 5:20AM0.89m | 10:13PM0.41m | 11:51PM0.34m | 10:50AM1.09m | 00:48AM0.25m | 12:20PM0.98m | 1:26AM0.16m | |||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 6:57 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 13 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 |
190 | 183 | 99 | 97 | 79 | 51 | 358 | 254 | 367 | 284 | 255 | 214 | 303 | 144 | 32 | 379 | 370 | 375 | 61 | 77 | 89 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 21 | S 12 | S 10 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
150 | 150 | 147 | 161 | 121 | 121 | 30 | 18 | 10 | 116 | 71 | 49 | 162 | 303 | 116 | 25 | 24 | 38 | 370 | 449 | 354 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 21 | SW 21 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
60 | 55 | 38 | 23 | 149 | 83 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 162 | 153 | 8 | 23 | 183 | 114 | 82 | 73 | 57 | 57 | 58 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 12 | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 152 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rockpile Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rockpile provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rockpile can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rockpile 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 (Rockpile) 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 Rockpile 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.
Rockpile is 10 km (6 miles) from San Diego. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Diego. San Diego has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










