Surf Forecasts:
South Del Mar surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with 475 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period with W 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. 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 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8AM. 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+) | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Del Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking for South Del Mar.
Right now, it’s a pretty sorry scene. We’ve got a long, flat stretch ahead where the surf is just not worth the drive. From now through about Saturday the 14th of September, it’s small, choppy junk with a cross-onshore wind messing everything up. Honestly, leave the board in the car.
The first shot at something rideable comes on the morning of Monday the 16th of September. We see a little bump—about 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds. That’s a long period groundswell, so the combined energy is decent (around 515). The wind is a light offshore from the WNW, which should clean the face up nicely. But it’s still a marginal call. For a beginner-friendly reef, that long period might make the waves a bit too straight and fast. If you’re determined, that’s your best window so far.
The next few days stay mostly average—waist-high and only short windows of clean wind. The real highlight, if you can call it that, lands around the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of September. We get a better push of swell, around 3ft to 4ft from the SW, with periods of 17 seconds. The combined energy climbs into the strong range—up near 636 to 699. The wind is light cross-on or offshore, so the surface could be pretty tidy. The swell direction is WSW, which is right in the sweet spot for South Del Mar.
Monday the 23rd of September still has some leftover waist-high waves from the SW with a 15-second period, but it’s fading. After that, it’s back to small, onshore junk through the end of the month.
Also, the water is running about 74°, which is roughly 6° warmer than usual. That’s a big anomaly—swimming in a bathtub, really.
So, bottom line: if you’re itching, the morning of Monday the 16th is a possible go, but the weekend of the 21st and 22nd is your real standout. It’s not going to be pumping, but it’s the best we’ll see. Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 19 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 248 | 208 | 158 | 144 | 130 | 207 | 186 | 192 | 188 | 163 | 157 | 157 | 475 | 339 | 366 | 196 | 246 | 242 | 303 | 303 | 234 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:28AM2.09m | 10:45PM1.88m | 10:55AM2.09m | 11:29PM1.68m | 11:23AM2.06m | 00:17AM1.49m | 11:52AM1.99m | 1:21AM1.32m | 12:26PM1.89m | 3:50AM1.22m | 1:12PM1.79m | 2:34PM1.72m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 4:42PM0.49m | 4:39AM0.61m | 5:26PM0.51m | 5:03AM0.79m | 6:13PM0.56m | 5:23AM0.96m | 7:07PM0.64m | 5:35AM1.11m | 8:21PM0.72m | 5:02AM1.22m | 10:05PM0.74m | 11:35PM0.67m | |||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 25 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 6 |
| kJ | 248 | 208 | 29 | 92 | 100 | 207 | 186 | 120 | 99 | 74 | 79 | 50 | 475 | 339 | 366 | 196 | 246 | 242 | 303 | 303 | 31 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 6 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 21 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 36 | 24 | 158 | 144 | 87 | 85 | 108 | 192 | 188 | 163 | 157 | 157 | 12 | 46 | 101 | 72 | 70 | 212 | 160 | 141 | 139 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 10 | W 6 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 21 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 29 | 28 | 23 | 12 | 130 | 127 | 84 | 38 | 38 | 37 | 127 | 110 | 28 | 10 | 41 | 27 | 160 | 37 | 56 | 35 | 234 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 17 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 120 | 36 | 6 | 13 | 36 | 36 | 120 | 36 | 13 | 15 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 35 | 15 | 35 | 36 | 19 | 36 | 36 | 9 |
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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