Surf Forecasts:
Seaside Reef surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period, SW swell with 1,100 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Seaside Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Seaside Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Seaside Reef in the next 16 days are 1.2m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 16s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Seaside Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.
Seaside Reef is looking at a couple of weeks where the swell is around, but the conditions are a bit fickle. The first few days are a wash, but there are a couple of windows that are worth paddling out for.
We start on Monday the 20th with a 3ft swell from the southwest, but the forecast is marginal. The water is a weird 74°, which is way warmer than normal. The wind is light and offshore, but the energy is weak (618). Tuesday and Wednesday are flat out poor with the wind onshore.
Thursday the 23rd comes in with a 5ft S swell, light offshore wind, and moderate energy (819), but it’s still marginal. This pattern of not-quite-right conditions sticks around until the end of the month.
The first real standout is Saturday the 25th. We’ve got a 3ft SSW swell, but the period is 21 seconds – that’s a very long groundswell. The energy is strong (1166), and the wind is light and offshore from the west. For a reef break like this, that long period is going to produce some clean, lined-up waves. It’s inconsistent and only for advanced surfers, but this is the best session of the first week. Expect crowds, it’s often busy.
Sunday the 26th keeps the long period (19s) and light cross-offshore wind, with strong energy (1084).
The next week gets serious. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th pump 4ft SSW swell with a 17-19 second period and very strong energy (1228 and 1266). The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but there’s heaps of power.
We hit a slow patch from Wednesday the 29th to Friday the 31st morning. Then, Friday the 31st afternoon, it jumps to a 7ft S swell with a 15 second period and light offshore wind. The energy is very strong (1699). That’s a big swell.
Saturday the 1st of August is the biggest call. You’re looking at a 7ft S swell in the morning, with a 13 second period and a moderate cross-onshore wind. The energy is very strong (1669). This is expert-only territory. The afternoon cleans up with the wind going offshore and a 6ft swell.
Sunday the 2nd drops off, and Monday the 3rd is flat. Tuesday the 4th has a final pulse of 6ft S swell, 14 second period, light offshore wind, and strong energy (1411). A solid end.
The absolute pick is the Saturday morning on the 25th of July – that glassy, long period groundswell is the one to chase. The Friday the 31st afternoon and the whole Saturday the 1st of August are the big days for the experienced crew.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 367 | 412 | 506 | 474 | 551 | 437 | 431 | 843 | 704 | 582 | 475 | 285 | 261 | 664 | 799 | 551 | 1004 | 863 | 735 | 719 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:01PM1.87m | 3:36AM1.29m | 3:52PM1.88m | 5:49AM1.24m | 4:47PM1.90m | 7:36AM1.30m | 5:40PM1.94m | 8:29AM1.38m | 6:30PM2.00m | 9:01AM1.44m | 7:13PM2.07m | 9:27AM1.49m | 7:52PM2.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:05PM0.88m | 8:41AM0.98m | 11:34PM0.77m | 9:31AM1.13m | 00:42AM0.64m | 10:46AM1.22m | 1:31AM0.51m | 11:59AM1.25m | 2:10AM0.41m | 12:55PM1.23m | 2:44AM0.32m | 1:39PM1.18m | 3:16AM0.25m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | 7:55 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | W 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 242 | 412 | 506 | 474 | 551 | 437 | 431 | 843 | 704 | 582 | 475 | 92 | 261 | 418 | 322 | 317 | 1004 | 863 | 735 | 719 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 16 | S 14 | SW 7 | WSW 6 | SW 26 | W 6 | S 12 | W 7 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | W 7 |
| kJ | 367 | 122 | 199 | 82 | 62 | 122 | 250 | 16 | 15 | 171 | 98 | 280 | 74 | 664 | 799 | 551 | 265 | 193 | 154 | 47 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | SW 13 | WNW 14 | SW 11 | SW 21 | SW 8 | SSW 7 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 26 | SSW 14 | S 12 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 9 | 172 | 39 | 43 | 71 | 31 | 37 | 130 | 50 | 49 | 171 | 285 | 174 | 47 | 45 | 31 | 20 | 28 | 31 | 78 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 5 | W 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 9 | 30 | 50 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 41 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 12 | 41 | 250 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 116 | 195 | 19 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Seaside Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Seaside Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Seaside Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Seaside Reef 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 (Seaside Reef) 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 Seaside Reef 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.
Seaside Reef is 1 km (1 miles) from the city of Encinitas. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Encinitas. Encinitas has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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