Surf Forecasts:
Seaside Reef surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 867 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s 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 Seaside Reef in the next 16 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) 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+) | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Seaside Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s shaping up for Seaside Reef over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a bit of a waiting game on our hands, so let’s get into it.
Honestly, the next week is pretty tough sledding. There’s a lot of weak, mixed-up energy and the wind just won’t cooperate for clean conditions. It’s not until we get deep into the second week that things start looking like they might actually line up for a proper session.
Right now, through the end of August, forget it. The swell is tiny – mostly around 2ft to 4ft – and the period is all over the place. A lot of this is long-period groundswell from the SW and SSW, but here at a reef break, that long period can actually make things a bit too straight. The bigger issue is the wind: constant onshore or cross-onshore breezes keep everything looking messy. The combined wave energy is moderate but disappointing.
We roll into September with more of the same lull. The first week of September is mostly poor, with the swell dropping even smaller and the wind staying unfriendly. We see a little pulse around the 3rd and 4th of September – swell bumps up to about 3ft to 4ft from the SSW with a long period of 19 seconds and combined energy climbing into that moderate to strong zone. But it’s still mainly cross-onshore winds. It’s heartbreaking, because that long-period SSW groundswell is exactly what this reef wants, but the wind is ruining the party.
Then, finally, a glimmer of hope. On Sunday the 6th of September, the afternoon looks like *the* standout window of the entire forecast. The swell will be a clean 3ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the wind goes totally glassy from the north. The combined energy is moderate, but with conditions that clean, it’s going to be fun. For an advanced spot like Seaside Reef, this is the one to circle – if you can get out there, it should be well-shaped and super clean.
Before that Sunday, the pickings are slim. Any surf earlier in the window will be choppy and hard work. Keep an eye on forecasts; if that glass-off window holds, it’ll be worth the wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 22°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 222 | 224 | 197 | 273 | 249 | 175 | 330 | 264 | 208 | 581 | 584 | 553 | 446 | 257 | 196 | 270 | 343 | 419 | 867 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:41AM1.49m | 6:55PM2.01m | 8:57AM1.55m | 7:34PM2.10m | 9:15AM1.61m | 8:10PM2.17m | 9:34AM1.68m | 8:44PM2.19m | 9:54AM1.75m | 9:18PM2.17m | 10:16AM1.83m | 9:52PM2.09m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:47AM0.43m | 12:51PM1.24m | 2:18AM0.34m | 1:30PM1.14m | 2:45AM0.28m | 2:05PM1.04m | 3:11AM0.24m | 2:39PM0.94m | 3:35AM0.25m | 3:14PM0.84m | 3:59AM0.29m | 3:51PM0.76m | 4:22AM0.38m | ||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | WNW 8 | S 9 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 222 | 41 | 27 | 273 | 249 | 175 | 330 | 264 | 176 | 581 | 584 | 553 | 446 | 257 | 196 | 137 | 99 | 94 | 867 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 6 | W 6 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | W 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SW 15 | WNW 7 | W 8 | SSW 18 | S 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 16 | 137 | 135 | 199 | 17 | 17 | 126 | 126 | 208 | 49 | 84 | 47 | 171 | 57 | 63 | 270 | 103 | 65 | 84 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | W 5 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | W 5 | W 6 | SSE 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 7 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | S 8 |
| kJ | 58 | 224 | 197 | 17 | 87 | 93 | 12 | 24 | 111 | 203 | 248 | 196 | 38 | 132 | 130 | 39 | 343 | 419 | 36 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 41 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 119 | 0 | 133 | 89 | 19 | 89 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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