
Surf Forecasts:
Terra Mar surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 553 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s 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 (Sep 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s is also forecast. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 2PM. 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 (Tue 15th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 21st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Terra Mar over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's be real here. Terra Mar (Terra-Mar) is looking like a wasteland for the next two weeks. There's no two ways about it—this is a long, frustrating stretch of marginal, choppy, cross-onshore junk, with one tiny window of hope. That's it. The best you'll find is Thursday the 24th's morning session, and even that is just a small, clean break in an otherwise poor run.
Starting Tuesday the 15th, it's clear but the swell is tiny—1ft at 20 seconds from the SSW, and the wind is directly on it. That long period is good for points, but with that size, it's knee-high dribble. The water's at 74°, which is a solid 6° warmer than normal—that's very unusual, so if you do get in, expect a warm bath.
Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th see the swell bump up to 3ft from the SSW, but the wind goes cross-on, and the energy (414, then 370) is just moderate with a weak 16-second period. It's choppy, it's poor, and the reports are calling it exactly what it is. Friday the 18th drops to 2ft, and while there's a tiny window in the morning that's "marginal" (2/10), it's still cross-onshore and small. Not worth the paddle.
The weekend, the 19th and 20th, stays locked in the same pattern: 3ft to 3ft, SSW/SW, cross-on winds, and the energy climbs a bit (603, 623) but the waves are sectiony and weak. The swell direction is drifting toward the west, which, for Terra Mar's southwest exposure, is just not the good angle. It's still a beach break here, and that long period (18s) will likely make it close out and wall up rather than offer anything rideable.
Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd don't change much. Swell bumps to 3ft on Monday afternoon, but it's onshore and messy, with a 17-second interval. That's right on the edge of "long period," and for a beach break, that's a warning sign—it's going to be a lumpy, closed-out mess. The energy is strong (637) but there's no shape to it.
Then comes Thursday the 24th. This is the only real window in the entire forecast. In the morning, the wind goes light NNW—cross-offshore—and for once, it's *clean*. The swell is still only 3ft from the SW at 14 seconds, but that cross-off makes it look a thousand times better. The report says "expect good surf conditions." This is your shot. It's small, but it's clean, and that's a rare thing out here. The energy is moderate (306), so don't expect power, but on a point break like Terra Mar, that clean face can still give you a few fun ones. Get out early before the wind swings back onshore in the afternoon, which it will, with a WNW cross-on at 9 mph.
After that, it's back to the grind. Friday the 25th through Sunday the 27th—all cross-on, all poor or marginal. The swell stays around 3ft to 3ft but drops to 13-14 seconds, and the energy weakens (340, 395). It's just not happening.
The following week, from Monday the 28th into the 1st of October, the trend continues—cross-on winds, weak slop, and a slight shift to SSE/S on the 30th with a 15-second period. There's a spot of rain on the 24th that clears, but that's about it.
So, bottom line: this is a two-week dry spell, nearly. The one highlight is Thursday the 24th, morning, at Terra Mar (Terra-Mar). It's only 3ft, but it's clean, and that's the whole ballgame. Everything else is either too small, too onshore, or too sectiony. Nobody's going to be shouting about this stretch, but if you're desperate, that Thursday morning is your only real hope. Don't bother with the rest unless you're just trying to sit on a board and soak up that 74° water.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
127 | 114 | 390 | 347 | 402 | 288 | 275 | 405 | 303 | 303 | 234 | 379 | 375 | 375 | 522 | 522 | 499 | 470 | 547 | 443 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:22AM1.32m | 12:27PM1.90m | 3:52AM1.22m | 1:13PM1.80m | 2:35PM1.72m | 8:13AM1.44m | 4:22PM1.72m | 7:53AM1.50m | 5:36PM1.80m | 8:01AM1.57m | 6:27PM1.89m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:08PM0.64m | 5:37AM1.11m | 8:22PM0.72m | 5:04AM1.22m | 10:05PM0.73m | 11:35PM0.67m | 10:11AM1.43m | 00:29AM0.57m | 11:54AM1.34m | 1:06AM0.48m | 12:41PM1.21m | 1:35AM0.42m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
6:55 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
39 | 88 | 390 | 347 | 402 | 288 | 275 | 405 | 183 | 303 | 139 | 379 | 375 | 375 | 522 | 522 | 499 | 470 | 547 | 443 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | W 8 | W 5 | W 5 | SSW 9 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 |
122 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 160 | 162 | 156 | 303 | 158 | 234 | 99 | 96 | 15 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 58 | 43 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | S 13 | SSW 8 | S 12 | W 4 | W 5 | S 11 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
127 | 114 | 15 | 14 | 30 | 14 | 25 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 85 | 56 | 75 | 50 | 48 | 47 | 45 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 8 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 108 | 0 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 156 | 0 | 61 | 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.










