
Surf Forecasts:
Terra Mar surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period, SW swell with 1,100 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Terra Mar in the next 16 days are 1.2m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 5AM. 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+) | 5AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, and honestly, it starts off a bit flat and slow. The good news is that the swell builds nicely later on, but you’ve gotta be patient.
The first real surf worth paddling out for is at Terra Mar on Monday afternoon, July 20th. It’s a point break, and it’s fairly consistent, so it’ll be offering up some waves. The swell is a small 3ft from the SW with a very long period of 16 seconds. That long period means it’s a proper groundswell, and for a point break, that’s a beautiful thing – the waves will have shape and push. The combined energy is moderate at 594. The water temperature is a warm 74°F, and it’s 7°F warmer than usual, which is a very unusual anomaly for the time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit. The wind is a light breeze from the WSW, which is a cross-on, so it’s a little textured but not blown out. It’s a beginner spot, and it can get crowded sometimes, so expect some company.
Tuesday morning, July 21st, sees a slight bump up to 4ft from the SSW, still with that long 16-second period. The wind is onshore from the WSW, so it’s clean but not glassy. Combined energy is up to 858. The morning session is the pick of the day, as the afternoon turns choppy with a moderate cross-onshore breeze.
Wednesday, July 22nd, is a write-off. The wind is up to 16 mph from the WNW, cross-on, and the swell is a meagre 3ft. It’s choppy and poor. It’s a better day for the kite surfers with that strong wind and messy waves.
The pattern holds through to the end of July – we’re looking at marginal surf with small swells (3ft to 4ft) and mostly light onshore or cross-onshore winds. The wave energy stays moderate, and the scores are low. It’s not the time to get excited.
The standout window arrives at the very end of the forecast. Saturday, August 1st, is the real deal. The swell jumps to 7ft from the S on Saturday morning, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a solid, powerful swell. The combined energy is a strong 1582. This is a lot of wave, and it’s getting up over 8ft in the afternoon, so this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The wind is light and onshore from the SW in the morning, shifting to a light cross-on from the WSW in the afternoon. It’s clean shape, but that size at a point will be a heavy, powerful ride. It’s a true standout for the period.
After that, it drops back down quickly. Sunday, August 2nd, is back to 4ft, and by Monday, August 3rd, it’s tiny and poor again. The very end of the forecast on Tuesday, August 4th, shows a little bump back to 5ft from the S, but it’s cross-on and only marginal.
So, the long story short: the first week is a slow grind with only small, marginal waves. Don’t get your hopes up until the last weekend of July and into August 1st. That Saturday is the one to circle on your calendar.
Stay keen,
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
367 | 334 | 827 | 559 | 559 | 437 | 394 | 472 | 371 | 498 | 475 | 247 | 261 | 548 | 664 | 640 | 863 | 657 | 743 | 799 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:02PM1.87m | 3:37AM1.29m | 3:53PM1.88m | 5:50AM1.24m | 4:47PM1.90m | 7:37AM1.30m | 5:41PM1.94m | 8:30AM1.38m | 6:30PM2.00m | 9:02AM1.44m | 7:14PM2.08m | 9:28AM1.49m | 7:53PM2.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:06PM0.88m | 8:42AM0.98m | 11:35PM0.77m | 9:32AM1.13m | 00:43AM0.64m | 10:46AM1.22m | 1:32AM0.51m | 12:00PM1.25m | 2:11AM0.40m | 12:56PM1.23m | 2:45AM0.31m | 1:39PM1.18m | 3:17AM0.24m | |||||||
— | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
188 | 334 | 827 | 559 | 559 | 437 | 394 | 472 | 326 | 498 | 475 | 228 | 261 | 424 | 322 | 242 | 863 | 657 | 743 | 799 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | S 10 | S 14 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SW 26 | W 6 | W 7 | S 12 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
367 | 125 | 16 | 92 | 62 | 32 | 200 | 340 | 371 | 171 | 81 | 73 | 174 | 548 | 664 | 640 | 265 | 193 | 190 | 103 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 13 | W 14 | SW 11 | SW 21 | S 16 | SW 8 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 26 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 |
35 | 175 | 15 | 19 | 71 | 78 | 20 | 22 | 49 | 49 | 105 | 247 | 42 | 33 | 31 | 19 | 11 | 18 | 19 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 30 | 50 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 60 | 61 | 61 | 40 | 30 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 60 | 232 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 103 | 178 | 39 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










