Surf Forecasts:
South Del Mar surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with 932 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. 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 1.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. 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+) | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Del Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board and have a listen. Rusty here.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a run of small, clean-ish conditions at South Del Mar. This reef break is a consistent spot, and it's exposed to the swell, so it's always in the mix. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.
We’re looking at Friday, August 28th, with a solid long-period groundswell from the SSW, but it’s only pushing 3ft. The energy is moderate (506), and it’s pretty small. The wind is a light cross-on, so it’ll be a little bumpy, but for a beginner-friendly spot, it's worth a look. The swell period is a long 16 seconds, which means there’ll be good shape but long waits between sets.
Saturday morning, August 29th, the swell bumps up a touch to 4ft from the SSW, with the same 16-second period. The wind switches to straight onshore, which isn't ideal, but the energy is building (749). It's still marginal, though. The afternoon gets a bit windier, so don’t expect much.
Sunday, August 30th, is a write-off. The wind is onshore or cross-on, and the conditions are poor. The energy drops off a cliff. We’ve got a long gap of nothing but marginal to poor surf through the rest of the week. The first week is a bit of a struggle.
The real standout, the one worth circling on your calendar, is Tuesday, September 8th. The swell jumps up to 5ft on the morning from the S, with a 13-second period. The energy is strong (1045), and the wind is light and offshore. That’s a clean look for a point break. By the afternoon, it’s building to 7ft, which is getting into the big stuff for most. The wind stays onshore, but the energy is very strong (1392). This is for the experienced crew.
Wednesday, September 9th, keeps the swell going with 6ft to 7ft from the S and SSW, but the wind is onshore, so it’ll be a bit messy. Still, the energy is very strong (1118-1120), so there’s power in the water.
The rest of the second week fades out with smaller SSW and SW swells and cross-onshore winds. It’s nothing special.
So, the best bet is Tuesday, September 8th, for the biggest, cleanest surf of the window. The rest is a wait-and-see game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 270 | 343 | 465 | 932 | 667 | 788 | 749 | 537 | 437 | 321 | 316 | 228 | 195 | 154 | 359 | 347 | 432 | 191 | 585 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:18PM2.17m | 10:16AM1.83m | 9:52PM2.09m | 10:38AM1.90m | 10:29PM1.96m | 11:03AM1.97m | 11:09PM1.79m | 11:31AM2.01m | 11:56PM1.60m | 12:05PM2.03m | 00:56AM1.39m | 12:47PM2.02m | 2:38AM1.23m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:59AM0.29m | 3:51PM0.76m | 4:22AM0.38m | 4:30PM0.69m | 4:46AM0.50m | 5:12PM0.65m | 5:09AM0.64m | 6:01PM0.64m | 5:33AM0.79m | 7:02PM0.65m | 5:57AM0.95m | 8:22PM0.65m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | | |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 151 | 343 | 465 | 932 | 667 | 788 | 749 | 177 | 138 | 131 | 295 | 228 | 149 | 146 | 359 | 347 | 432 | 191 | 585 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 5 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | W 5 |
| kJ | 270 | 78 | 71 | 34 | 62 | 77 | 134 | 537 | 437 | 321 | 77 | 210 | 195 | 154 | 80 | 11 | 179 | 183 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | W 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | W 6 | W 6 | W 10 | SW 18 | W 6 | SSW 16 | W 10 |
| kJ | 153 | 85 | 118 | 24 | 20 | 10 | 11 | 55 | 73 | 163 | 316 | 35 | 22 | 16 | 2 | 152 | 15 | 173 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | — | — | 14 | — | — | 22 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 120 | 77 | 1 | 36 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 0 | 36 | 35 | 0 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 4 |
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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