Surf Forecasts:
Rockpile surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with 1,492 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rockpile in the next 16 days are 1.8m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockpile over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's break it down.
Honestly, it's a slow start. From Friday the 21st right through to the end of August, things are pretty flat and ugly at Rockpile (Bird Rock). We've got tiny swell, mostly around 2 to 2 feet, with the wind coming from the west and cross-on. That makes for pretty poor conditions, so save your energy. The water temp is about 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
The first real sign of life is on Wednesday the 26th. Swell picks up to around 6 feet from the SSW, with strong energy. But the wind is a moderate cross-on at around 12 mph, so it's choppy. It's still a marginal call - keep an eye on it, but don't get too excited.
The clear standout is Thursday the 3rd of September. We're looking at a glassy afternoon with almost no wind from the south. Swell holds at 3 feet with a 14-second period, giving moderate energy. Conditions are expected to be very good. That's the one to target - it's about two weeks out, so it's a bit uncertain, but that glassy forecast is a rare gem.
The 4th of September also has potential with a bigger 5-foot SSW swell, period around 15 seconds, and very light offshore wind. The energy is big, but it's still marked as marginal due to tides.
Then the 5th of September brings the biggest swell of the period at 7 feet from the SSW. That's experts-only territory with a 14-second period. The cross-on wind will make it lumpy, so if you're not comfortable in big, powerful waves, sit this one out. With that size and onshore wind, it could be more fun for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The end of the window shows smaller, cleaner waves, but nothing beats that 3rd of September window.
So, in short - a slow start, a few rough days, but that Thursday the 3rd is your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | WSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 116 | 84 | 109 | 217 | 220 | 171 | 154 | 233 | 209 | 135 | 222 | 216 | 208 | 293 | 1492 | 1059 | 522 | 308 | 236 | 150 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 5:13PM1.48m | 8:29AM1.11m | 6:17PM1.56m | 8:41AM1.17m | 7:04PM1.67m | 8:55AM1.23m | 7:42PM1.77m | 9:11AM1.29m | 8:17PM1.85m | 9:29AM1.36m | 8:49PM1.89m | 9:50AM1.44m | 9:21PM1.87m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:32AM0.20m | 12:26PM0.96m | 2:09AM0.09m | 1:18PM0.87m | 2:39AM0.01m | 1:55PM0.76m | 3:05AM-0.05m | 2:28PM0.65m | 3:31AM-0.09m | 3:01PM0.55m | 3:55AM-0.10m | 3:34PM0.45m | 4:19AM-0.07m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 13 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | WSW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 116 | 84 | 19 | 217 | 220 | 29 | 154 | 233 | 209 | 95 | 222 | 216 | 208 | 282 | 1492 | 1059 | 522 | 308 | 236 | 123 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WNW 6 | SW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 8 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 20 | 11 | 51 | 20 | 18 | 114 | 28 | 19 | 27 | 18 | 156 | 27 | 133 | 52 | 91 | 69 | 36 | 73 | 58 | 149 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | WSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 17 | W 15 | W 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 73 | 50 | 109 | 35 | 94 | 171 | 154 | 155 | 120 | 135 | 16 | 98 | 28 | 293 | 17 | 16 | 104 | 104 | 130 | 150 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 129 | 7 | 4 | 64 | 64 | 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.
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