Surf Forecasts:
Terra Mar surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 899 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s 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 1.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Look, I'm just gonna level with you: we are in the middle of a shocking dry spell for waves around here. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off, with only scraps on offer. It gets interesting toward the very end of the forecast, but you’ll need to be patient.
The good news is that this joint, Terra Mar (a point break), is usually fairly consistent, so this blank run is a bit of a bummer, not the norm. The water temps are sitting a touch warmer than average for this time of year, which is nice, but that’s about the only thing to get stoked about right now.
Alright, starting from Thursday, August 20. Don’t get your hopes up. It’s a cross-on mess with a weak 3 ft SSW swell, period a short 14 seconds. Combined swell energy is weak at 289. The wind is a cross-onshore S at 9 mph, creating choppy, poor surf. Total dud.
The next few days—Friday, August 21 through Tuesday, August 25—are just as grim. Swell hangs around the 2 ft to 3 ft range, mostly short period (13 to 18 seconds) and crossed up. Wave energy stays weak to moderate, peaking at just 506 on Tuesday afternoon. Wind flickers between cross-on and onshore, never giving us anything clean. Just small, bumpy leftovers.
Now, Wednesday, August 26 sees a bit of a pulse. Swell bumps up to 4 ft to 5 ft from the S/SSW, period sitting at 12 to 13 seconds. Energy climbs into moderate territory—881 on Wednesday morning, 740 in the arvo. But the wind is still a problem, mostly cross-onshore or onshore. The forecast calls it “marginal” and honestly, it’s still not worth paddling out for.
Then we hit a period where things get a little more interesting, starting Thursday, August 27. That morning, we get a 5 ft SSW swell with a solid 14-second period, and the combined energy hits a strong 1037. The wind is onshore WSW at 6 mph, but it’s light. It’s still “marginal” but this is the first session with some real push. If you’re a beginner, 5 ft is right at your limit, so be smart. This is the best bet early on.
Friday, August 28 drops back a touch to 4 ft to 4 ft, but the energy stays moderate to strong (780 to 661). Wind is light onshore or cross-on. Still barely worth a mention.
Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 bring cleaner conditions. On Saturday morning, we’ve got a 3 ft SSW swell, but the period lengthens to a nice 17 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with good shape. Light onshore SW wind at 6 mph, so it’ll be glassy and clean. Energy is strong at 762. Sunday morning is similar: 4 ft, 15-second period, light onshore wind. For a point break like Terra Mar, that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. These are the standouts of the first week.
After that, from Monday, August 31 through Wednesday, September 2, it fades back to small, poor conditions with no redeeming features.
Now, the real standout—and it’s a risk because it’s far out—lands on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. On the 3rd, we get a 2 ft to 3 ft swell but with an *exceptionally* long period of 20 to 21 seconds from the SSW. Combined energy is strong at 623 to 683. More importantly, the wind on Thursday afternoon swings to a light cross-shore WNW at 6 mph, giving us clean lines. Friday the 4th is the pick: swell picks up to 4 ft to 4 ft, still a long 17 to 18 seconds, and the energy jumps to strong 928, topping out at a very strong 1056 Friday afternoon. Light cross-onshore wind but light enough to be glassy. For Terra Mar, that long period from the SSW is a beautiful match for the optimum WSW direction, so expect well-shaped, powerful waves. This is the session to circle on your calendar, but remember, it’s a long-range call—promising, but not locked in.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
236 | 175 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 177 | 155 | 213 | 197 | 179 | 273 | 264 | 219 | 701 | 572 | 608 | 724 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:47PM1.80m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:19AM0.65m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 7 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 |
236 | 175 | 156 | 137 | 98 | 21 | 167 | 218 | 28 | 98 | 213 | 26 | 179 | 42 | 55 | 219 | 701 | 572 | 608 | 724 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 7 | W 7 | W 14 | W 6 |
18 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 92 | 18 | 15 | 99 | 155 | 199 | 197 | 58 | 273 | 264 | 163 | 146 | 106 | 37 | 53 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | W 5 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 21 | W 13 |
35 | 8 | 81 | 51 | 49 | 81 | 56 | 58 | 177 | 84 | 19 | 89 | 66 | 126 | 176 | 47 | 159 | 203 | 18 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | W 7 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | 24 | — | — | 77 | — | — | 77 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 60 | 0 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 40 | 24 | 60 | 60 | 7 | 60 | 61 | 0 | 39 | 39 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











