Surf Forecasts:
Terra Mar surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 418 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with SW 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 1.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 8PM. 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+) | 11PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with your Terra Mar surf outlook.
Well, I gotta be straight with you – if you're lookin' for a classic surf session at Terra Mar over the next couple of weeks, you're gonna be disappointed. The whole 16-day window is a tough one. There's a long, frustrating gap right from the start. For the first six days, from Friday morning the 11th through to Wednesday the 16th, it's all "poor surf conditions" and nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is mostly a messy cross-onshore, and the swell is just too weak and small to do anything with. It’s a total write-off.
We finally start to see a glimmer of life on Thursday the 17th, but it's only *marginal*. The wave energy is starting to build, though, hitting a moderate 380 (combined energy), but the wind is still crossing up the face. The real highlight of this whole outlook, if you can call it that, is around Sunday the 21st and Monday the 22nd. The combined energy is strong, climbing past 700 (combined energy) on the Monday afternoon, with a clean 3 ft SW swell arriving. The wind is light and variable or even onshore-light on Monday afternoon, which could clean things up. That’s the best shot you’ve got.
Keep in mind, the water temp is running about a touch warmer than normal at 71°F, so at least it won't be freezing while you're sitting there waiting for a set.
For that Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st, the swell is that nice long-period groundswell, about 17 to 18 seconds. That means the waves will have proper shape and push, but with long lulls between sets. The wind looks best on Sunday the 20th with a light onshore breeze, and the swell will be coming from the SW. Terra Mar is exposed to that direction, and it’s a point break, so it should handle that long-period energy well. Just a heads up, you might have some company as crowds are sometimes an issue here. For the absolute best of a bad bunch, lock in the afternoon of Monday the 21st or the morning of Tuesday the 22nd. The rest of that second week just fades back into small, weak, and poor surf.
So there you have it. A long wait, one or two sessions that might be worth a look, and then it's done. Hang in there.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 19 | W 10 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 471 | 360 | 309 | 211 | 164 | 160 | 89 | 130 | 165 | 119 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 127 | 113 | 386 | 240 | 326 | 284 | 246 | 242 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:01AM2.05m | 10:04PM2.06m | 10:29AM2.09m | 10:46PM1.88m | 10:56AM2.10m | 11:30PM1.68m | 11:24AM2.06m | 00:18AM1.49m | 11:53AM1.99m | 1:22AM1.32m | 12:27PM1.90m | 3:52AM1.22m | 1:13PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:01PM0.53m | 4:14AM0.43m | 4:43PM0.49m | 4:40AM0.61m | 5:27PM0.50m | 5:04AM0.79m | 6:14PM0.56m | 5:24AM0.96m | 7:08PM0.64m | 5:37AM1.11m | 8:22PM0.72m | 5:04AM1.22m | 10:05PM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 471 | 360 | 309 | 211 | 164 | 38 | 82 | 78 | 165 | 119 | 52 | 32 | 56 | 56 | 88 | 386 | 240 | 326 | 284 | 246 | 242 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 28 | 17 | 16 | 37 | 25 | 160 | 89 | 87 | 85 | 108 | 150 | 190 | 161 | 122 | 31 | 11 | 9 | 170 | 46 | 72 | 82 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 12 | SW 20 | SSW 12 | S 9 | W 4 |
| kJ | 22 | 20 | 16 | 29 | 29 | 14 | 58 | 130 | 129 | 44 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 127 | 113 | 14 | 42 | 61 | 50 | 26 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | W 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 103 | 108 | 39 | 103 | 61 | 0 | 39 | 61 | 1 | 39 | 61 | 39 | 103 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 60 | 61 | 0 |
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.
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