Surf Forecasts:
Terra Mar surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 387 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5PM. 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+) | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the look ahead for Terra Mar. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty quiet stretch overall. We’ve got a run of small, onshore-affected waves that’ll keep things tricky, but there’s a tiny window near the end that might just be worth a look if you’re desperate for a paddle.
Right now and through the rest of August, the story is small. We’re talking waves around 2ft to 3ft from the SSW, and the wind is a near-constant onshore or cross-onshore breeze. That’s going to leave the surface bumpy and the waves weak – the combined swell energy is mostly sitting between 186 and 463 (moderate), but it just doesn’t have the push. The period is long, between 13 and 19 seconds, so it’s a groundswell, but with those tiny heights and the wrong wind direction, this point break isn’t going to shape up. You’d be looking at a lot of closeouts and wind bumps. For a beginner-friendly spot, the small size is okay for learning, but the conditions aren’t doing it any favours. Water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
We hit a bit of a lull from the 27th of August through the end of the month and into early September, with even smaller waves and poor conditions. The combined energy drops further, into the 200–400 range, which is very weak.
Now, there’s a flicker of life on Saturday the 29th of August into Sunday the 30th. The swell inches up a touch – we’re seeing 3ft to 4ft from the SSW. The period is still long (15–17 seconds) and the combined energy jumps to 677–709 (moderate to strong). It’s still cross-on or onshore wind, but it’s light, so the surface won’t be a total mess. This is the best on offer for the whole 16-day window. It’s still only rated as marginal, but if you’re keen to get wet, this is your shot. Expect a bit of a bumpy surface, but there could be the odd clean-ish one. Crowds are possible here (sometimes), so don’t expect to have it to yourself.
After Saturday, it drops back down again quickly. By Monday the 31st, we’re back to 3ft – 3ft and fading energy. The rest of the forecast into early September stays small and mostly poor, with a brief spike on the 1st of September showing a 4ft windswell from the west with a short 8-second period – that’s junk.
The honest truth is, for most of this period, there’s just not much to get excited about. If you’re in a wetsuit and need a paddle, aim for Saturday the 29th of August. Otherwise, give it a miss.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 177 | 154 | 273 | 197 | 179 | 273 | 264 | 208 | 203 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:34PM1.82m | 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 | |||||||||
Low Tide | 10:59PM0.76m | 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 | |||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 6 |
377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 167 | 218 | 137 | 135 | 273 | 197 | 179 | 42 | 264 | 208 | 45 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | W 6 | SSW 16 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 |
58 | 41 | 25 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 81 | 11 | 51 | 12 | 56 | 32 | 177 | 154 | 199 | 89 | 85 | 273 | 126 | 125 | 203 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WSW 19 | S 10 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 6 | SW 19 | W 6 | S 16 | W 5 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | W 11 | W 18 | S 13 |
16 | 4 | 13 | 57 | 35 | 8 | 6 | 51 | 49 | 81 | 11 | 58 | 17 | 44 | 13 | 110 | 66 | 126 | 2 | 6 | 81 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | 15 | 22 | — | 35 | 40 | 73 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 60 | 232 | 11 | 39 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 61 |
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.











