Surf Forecasts:
South Del Mar surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 487 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period with SW 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s is also forecast. 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 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM. 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+) | 2AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Del Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for South Del Mar over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a bit of a washout. We’ve got a long dry spell on our hands. The first decent looking surf isn’t showing up until Friday the 14th of August, and even then, it’s a marginal call. Before that, we’re looking at a solid 11 days of small, poor quality swell. The waves are there, but they’re tiny, messy, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore, just chopping everything up. It’s pretty grim for a paddle.
Now, let’s talk about that little window of hope. Friday the 14th of August through Saturday the 15th of August, the swell picks up a touch. We’re seeing waves around 3ft to 3ft coming from the SSW. The energy is starting to build, with combined energy readings jumping into the 600-700 range (moderate energy). The real kicker is the wind. For those days, it swings clean offshore from the West, which is a major positive. This is a reef break, so it handles a bit of direction well, and with the wind blowing straight out, it’s going to be absolutely glassy. That’s the kind of clean face you want for a long ride.
South Del Mar is a beginner-friendly spot, and it’s fairly consistent. But it’s also often crowded, so be prepared to share the peak. The water is sitting at a very warm 76°F with a staggering anomaly of 8°F, which is way warmer than normal for this time of year. A real treat if you’re in the water.
For the experts out there, don’t get too excited. The swell never really gets over 5ft, so it won’t be big, but those clean offshore conditions on the 14th and 15th will make for some really fun, peelable waves. The rest of the second week, from the 16th of August onward, drops back down into the small and poor category, with light winds but not enough juice to make it worth the drive.
So, the standouts? Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th of August. That’s your window. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 91 | 91 | 115 | 107 | 104 | 128 | 125 | 158 | 111 | 140 | 126 | 329 | 205 | 438 | 336 | 291 | 481 | 309 | 305 | 297 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 00:50AM1.51m | 1:38PM1.90m | 2:07AM1.31m | 2:30PM1.95m | 4:22AM1.20m | 3:37PM2.01m | 6:46AM1.26m | 4:52PM2.10m | 7:50AM1.38m | 6:01PM2.23m | 8:30AM1.50m | 7:02PM2.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:17PM0.90m | 6:47AM0.78m | 8:36PM0.86m | 7:18AM0.94m | 10:15PM0.74m | 8:02AM1.09m | 11:46PM0.56m | 9:33AM1.20m | 00:52AM0.35m | 11:21AM1.22m | 1:44AM0.16m | 12:39PM1.15m | 2:29AM0.02m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 15 | W 5 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 24 | 16 | 16 | 107 | 11 | 128 | 125 | 158 | 111 | 140 | 106 | 329 | 147 | 438 | 336 | 291 | 481 | 309 | 305 | 297 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | W 6 | SW 15 | W 5 | SW 12 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 80 | 53 | 115 | 16 | 104 | 12 | 34 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 126 | 151 | 205 | 122 | 69 | 94 | 72 | 59 | 42 | 30 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | SSW 20 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 15 | SSW 9 | W 12 | SSW 9 | W 13 | SSW 9 | WSW 5 |
| kJ | 91 | 91 | 35 | 36 | 62 | 30 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 82 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 9 | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | 5 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 13 | 138 | 36 | 36 | 13 | 36 | 13 | 13 | 83 | 0 |
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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