Surf Forecasts:
South Del Mar surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with 813 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for South Del Mar this week:
The surf forecast for South Del Mar over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at South Del Mar in the next 16 days are 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 11PM. 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 (Wed 29th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Del Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for South Del Mar over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it's a tough stretch. The forecast is pretty flat for the vast majority of the 16 days, with most of it being a total write-off. We're looking at a long gap of poor to non-existent waves from the end of the first week all the way through. The only real chance to get a wet suit on is in the first few days, but even then it's a marginal call.
The best of a poor bunch is Wednesday morning the 29th. South Del Mar, a reef break that's fairly consistent, sees a 4ft SSW swell. The period is a very long 16 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. That long period will produce some nice, lined-up waves at this reef, but it also means longer lulls between sets. The combined energy is moderate (1029). The wind is a light cross-on from the WSW at 6 mph, which will keep things a bit bumpy, but it's not a total disaster. The water temperature is a very unusual 76°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. This is a beginner break, but with that long period, the sets might be a little more powerful than the size suggests. It's a small window, and crowds are often here.
From Wednesday afternoon, the quality drops further. Thursday the 30th has a similar size, 4ft S swell, but the wind is straight onshore, killing the shape. By Friday the 31st, the swell drops to 3ft and the onshore wind continues. From Saturday the 1st of August, it’s into the weeds. The swell barely reaches 2ft, and then from Sunday the 2nd onwards, it's listed as poor surf conditions with wave heights below 2ft. There's a solid 12-day stretch of nothing worthwhile here. The energy is weak, under 250 for most of it. Even the one day with a 20-second period on the 10th of August is just a tiny 2ft swell with onshore wind. It's just not happening.
So, for the next 16 days, the only real sniff is a very small window on Wednesday morning. If you're desperate and a beginner, you might find a few long-period runners, but keep your expectations on the floor. The rest of the outlook is a blank. You'd be better off leaving the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 612 | 724 | 499 | 411 | 694 | 802 | 351 | 317 | 458 | 131 | 127 | 84 | 89 | 87 | 83 | 80 | 91 | 91 | 115 | 107 | 75 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:42AM1.59m | 9:36PM2.24m | 11:08AM1.64m | 10:09PM2.18m | 11:33AM1.68m | 10:42PM2.07m | 11:59AM1.73m | 11:18PM1.91m | 12:27PM1.79m | 11:59PM1.72m | 12:59PM1.85m | 00:50AM1.51m | 1:38PM1.90m | 2:07AM1.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:27PM1.02m | 4:42AM0.21m | 4:03PM0.99m | 5:08AM0.27m | 4:42PM0.96m | 5:33AM0.36m | 5:25PM0.95m | 5:57AM0.49m | 6:15PM0.93m | 6:21AM0.63m | 7:17PM0.90m | 6:47AM0.78m | 8:36PM0.86m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 612 | 724 | 489 | 411 | 694 | 802 | 351 | 317 | 458 | 52 | 52 | 34 | 48 | 61 | 74 | 43 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 107 | 75 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 7 | W 7 | S 12 | S 11 | W 8 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SSW 10 | SW 14 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 |
| kJ | 355 | 336 | 499 | 358 | 23 | 25 | 180 | 146 | 32 | 131 | 63 | 74 | 89 | 75 | 83 | 80 | 82 | 53 | 115 | 19 | 13 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | W 7 | W 8 | SW 21 | S 9 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 62 | 33 | 23 | 176 | 48 | 27 | 37 | 43 | 18 | 63 | 127 | 84 | 75 | 87 | 46 | 68 | 91 | 91 | 35 | 36 | 40 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 138 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 1 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 4 | 83 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 15 | 83 | 138 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the South Del Mar Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for South Del Mar provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at South Del Mar can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our South Del Mar 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 (South Del Mar) 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 South Del Mar 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.
South Del Mar is 5 km (3 miles) from the very large 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 cheap car hire and transport links.
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