Surf Forecasts:
Terra Mar surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, S swell with 892 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 13s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 1.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM. 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+) | 8PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk surf. This 16-day forecast is rough for the first week. There’s nothing worth paddling out for until Tuesday morning, 25th August. That’s a long stretch of flat or junk.
The only break we’ve got is Terra Mar, a beginner-friendly point that’s fairly consistent, with good exposure to any swell that comes.
Tuesday 25th August is where the surf finally wakes up. Morning shows a weak 1.0ft S swell with a 16-second period, energy rating a moderate 705. Still described as marginal, with a light cross-onshore breeze messing up the surface. By afternoon, it pushes to 1ft from the S, period drops to 14 seconds, and energy climbs to 810. Still marginal, but at least there’s some push.
Wednesday 26th August is the highlight. Morning brings 2ft of S swell at 13 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1061. That’s real juice. And the wind? Offshore from the SSW at only 6 mph. That’s glassy. For a point break, that’s your ticket. The waves won’t be perfect – the period is a bit short for a long wall – but with clean, offshore conditions, this is the session to go for. The afternoon gets a bit more breeze, turning cross-onshore, so the morning is the call.
Thursday 27th August holds some size but it’s fading. Morning offers 1ft S swell at 12 seconds, energy at 693, and still light offshore wind. Clean, but dropping. Afternoon is down to 1ft and 11 seconds. Still rideable, but weaker.
From Friday 28th August, it gets small. Morning has just 0.8ft from the SW, but a long 17-second period. Energy is 556. Light offshore wind keeps it clean, but you’ll be hunting for those infrequent sets. That long period groundswell on a point might give you a few runners, but it’s tiny.
Saturday 29th August and Sunday 30th August hang around 1ft to 1ft, mostly from the SSW with periods around 15-17 seconds. The mornings are clean with light offshore winds, but the size is marginal. Energy in the 500-700 range says moderate.
The rest of the run through early September is mostly poor, with tiny waves and inconsistent wind. Thursday 3rd September shows a little bump: 0.7ft from the SW at 18 seconds, energy 513, and a cross-shore wind that could clean it up. Marginal. Friday 4th September has 1ft from the SSW at 16 seconds, energy 767, with a light breeze. Still only marginal.
The standout is hands-down Wednesday 26th August morning. That’s the one. 2ft S swell, offshore wind, and strong energy. For Terra Mar, that’s as good as it gets in this outlook. Everything else is small, clean at times, but not worth writing home about.
Water temp is about 72°F, which is much warmer than average for this time of year. So, leave the thick rubber at home.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun morning, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon morning, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
156 | 137 | 98 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 177 | 155 | 213 | 197 | 179 | 273 | 382 | 439 | 808 | 772 | 892 | 488 | 411 | 319 | 318 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:25AM1.36m | 5:06PM1.83m | 8:27AM1.43m | 6:08PM1.91m | 8:41AM1.49m | 6:56PM2.01m | 8:58AM1.55m | 7:35PM2.10m | 9:16AM1.61m | 8:10PM2.17m | 9:35AM1.68m | 8:44PM2.20m | 9:55AM1.75m | 9:18PM2.17m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:09AM1.35m | 1:10AM0.54m | 11:57AM1.32m | 1:47AM0.43m | 12:51PM1.24m | 2:18AM0.34m | 1:31PM1.14m | 2:46AM0.27m | 2:06PM1.04m | 3:12AM0.24m | 2:40PM0.94m | 3:36AM0.24m | 3:15PM0.84m | 4:00AM0.29m | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | W 6 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 |
156 | 137 | 98 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 27 | 98 | 213 | 26 | 179 | 44 | 382 | 439 | 808 | 772 | 892 | 488 | 411 | 319 | 191 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | W 7 | SW 16 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 15 | W 7 | SW 14 | SSW 14 |
10 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 9 | 99 | 155 | 199 | 197 | 58 | 273 | 59 | 211 | 99 | 86 | 49 | 275 | 68 | 203 | 318 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | W 5 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 13 | SW 16 | S 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 14 | W 7 | SW 14 | W 7 | W 7 |
81 | 51 | 49 | 81 | 56 | 58 | 177 | 84 | 12 | 89 | 66 | 126 | 264 | 99 | 157 | 203 | 16 | 70 | 214 | 49 | 38 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 25 | — | — | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 61 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 40 | 40 | 61 | 40 | 0 | 60 | 40 | 0 | 39 | 108 | 39 | 103 | 39 | 0 |
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.











