South Del Mar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m looking at the data for South Del Mar. The forecast period is 16 days, but honestly, it’s a pretty quiet run. Let’s break it down.

The first few days are a real struggle. We’re not seeing anything rideable to start. Wednesday the 19th through to the morning of Saturday the 22nd have surf that’s too weak and messy to recommend. The combined energy is low, between 156 and 472, and it’s just not making the cut. It’s a flat start, and you’d be wasting your time paddling out.

Things start to creep up a little from Thursday the 20th afternoon, but it’s still only marginal. The swell is coming from the SSW, with heights around 2ft to 3ft, and the period is long – 14 to 16 seconds. That’s groundswell energy, but the wave quality is poor, and the wind is mostly light and cross-on or onshore, so it’s not clean. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

The standout moment, and the only real window worth mentioning, comes around Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th. On Saturday the 29th morning, we get a 3ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 702 – that’s moderate wave energy. The wind is light and cross-on, but it’s still mostly clean. By Saturday afternoon, the swell pushes to 4ft with a 16-second period, and the energy is up to 734. Still marginal, but it’s the best we’ve got. The wind is light and offshore, so the surface should be glassy. Sunday the 30th keeps similar 3ft SSW swell, with 15-second period and energy around 542. The wind stays light and cross-on, but again, it’s the best run of the whole forecast.

After that, the swell drops back to 2ft-3ft, and the period shortens into the first days of September. The wind stays light, but the wave quality is poor again. There’s a brief spike on September 1st with a 4ft W swell, but the period is only 8 seconds – that’s short-period windswell, and it’s not going to hold shape. The energy is moderate at 448, but the conditions are poor, so it’s a pass.

Overall, this is a sparse 16 days. South Del Mar is a reef break, fairly consistent, and beginner-friendly, but the swell is too small and inconsistent for most of the period. The best bet is the weekend of the 29th-30th, with that longer-period SSW groundswell. If you’re a beginner, those 3ft-4ft waves are just right, and the light offshore winds on Saturday afternoon will keep it clean. Crowds are possible, but it’s not a peak.

If you’re an expert, there’s nothing here worth getting excited about. The bigger swell on September 1st is too short-period and messy. This setup might actually be more interesting for a kite surfer, given the light wind and small, clean surf.

So, keep your eyes on the 29th-30th, but don’t expect much else. Forecasts can change, so stay tuned.

Rusty

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