
Surf Forecasts:
Terra Mar surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,614 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Terra Mar this week:
The surf forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Terra Mar in the next 16 days are 2.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at the next 16 days for our stretch of coast. To be honest, it’s a bit of a slow burn, and we’ve got a lot of waiting ahead.
First up, the water is sitting at a very warm 74°, which is a whopping 6° above normal for this time of year – that’s way out of the ordinary, feels like a late summer holdover.
The first real chance to get wet kicks off on Saturday the 5th at Terra Mar, a point break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the swell. Saturday morning we’re looking at a 3ft SSW groundswell with a nice long period of 16 seconds, giving it some real push. The combined energy is moderate at 1043, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but the quality is only marginal due to the wind and tide. That afternoon, the swell bumps up slightly to 4ft from the SW, but the wind picks up to 9 mph from the WNW, making it choppier.
Sunday the 6th is where things get a little more interesting. The morning brings a 6ft S swell at 14 seconds, with a cross-offshore wind from the north at 9 mph. That’s clean surf! The combined energy is up to 1287, and it’s worth a look. The caveat is that the direction is less than ideal for this spot which prefers WSW, so it won’t be perfect. That afternoon, the swell drops to 4ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, but the wind goes cross-shore, leaving a bit of chop.
Monday the 7th morning sees a solid 6ft SSW swell at 13 seconds, but the 9 mph cross-onshore wind from the west makes it choppy. That’s a lot of water for a beginner spot, and the energy is strong at 1303, but the wind is a killer. By the afternoon, the wind cranks up to 12 mph, and the surf is poor. From Tuesday the 8th onwards, the swell drops and the wind stays mostly onshore or cross-onshore, creating poor conditions through the end of the week. The combined energy drops below 1000, and it’s just not worth it.
Honestly, the standout session here is Sunday morning, September 6th. That 6ft S swell with the 9 mph cross-offshore wind is the cleanest we’ll see. It’s got moderate energy (1287) and the wind will be holding the waves up nicely. The swell direction is a bit off, but that clean, offshore wind is a major positive. It’s not huge, but it’s the best on offer.
After that, we’re looking at a long gap of poor to marginal conditions. From Monday afternoon right through to the end of the 16-day window, the swell is small, the wind is lousy, and the scores are low. Things get really weak after the 12th, with combined energy barely cracking 500. There’s a tiny uptick around the 18th and 19th with 2ft to 3ft SW swells, but with light onshore winds, it’s still just marginal. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a long flat spell, but it’s the reality of the forecast.
Stay patient, and if you get a chance, hit it Sunday morning. Otherwise, it’s time to wax the longboard and wait for a better window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
512 | 628 | 1094 | 1208 | 636 | 687 | 1210 | 1009 | 820 | 878 | 757 | 427 | 240 | 278 | 419 | 560 | 502 | 483 | 349 | 318 | 309 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:46PM2.04m | 7:41AM1.51m | 6:01PM2.14m | 8:09AM1.64m | 7:00PM2.24m | 8:37AM1.76m | 7:51PM2.30m | 9:05AM1.88m | 8:37PM2.28m | 9:33AM1.98m | 9:21PM2.20m | 10:01AM2.05m | 10:04PM2.06m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:01AM1.32m | 00:40AM0.30m | 11:49AM1.23m | 1:27AM0.18m | 12:55PM1.08m | 2:07AM0.11m | 1:47PM0.90m | 2:43AM0.10m | 2:34PM0.74m | 3:16AM0.16m | 3:18PM0.61m | 3:46AM0.28m | 4:01PM0.53m | 4:14AM0.43m | |||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:00 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 15 | W 6 |
462 | 599 | 1094 | 1208 | 633 | 480 | 1210 | 1009 | 820 | 878 | 757 | 427 | 240 | 267 | 181 | 560 | 502 | 134 | 91 | 318 | 74 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 11 | SW 20 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 10 | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 9 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 10 | SW 15 |
512 | 628 | 45 | 15 | 636 | 687 | 59 | 4 | 6 | 81 | 81 | 130 | 214 | 278 | 419 | 141 | 194 | 483 | 349 | 20 | 309 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | — | W 13 | SW 20 | W 12 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | W 11 | SW 18 | W 10 | SW 21 | W 5 | SSW 13 | W 4 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | W 18 | W 16 |
66 | — | 3 | 15 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 8 | 18 | 11 | 96 | 3 | 81 | 72 | 46 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 4 | W 10 | W 6 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | — | — | — | W 3 | — | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | W 7 | — |
3 | — | 56 | 49 | 61 | 8 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 12 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 10 | 15 | — | 110 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 60 | 61 | 40 | 6 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 61 | 0 | 40 | 61 | 0 | 24 | 39 | 0 | 60 | 60 | 1 | 39 | 61 | 61 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Terra Mar Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Terra Mar provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Terra Mar can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Terra 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 (Terra 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 Terra 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.
Terra Mar is 1 km (1 miles) from the city of Oceanside. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Oceanside. Oceanside has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










