Windansea
Windansea Beach
Now
Thu Nov 5 · 12–3 PM forecast
4–5 ftchest to head
Best tomorrow · Fri 6
Compare bothNothing good left today.
Best tomorrow · Fri 6, 6 to 10 AM Pacific.
then the wind turns onshore
3–4 ft · waist to chest
Light offshore wind is grooming the waves, and it’s a good size for a longboard.
Windansea surf guide
La Jolla's historic reef peak, by its surf shack · 3 things to watch
Windansea guide
La Jolla's historic reef peak, by its surf shack.
- Good for
- Intermediates and up; logs when soft.
- The wave
- A long right, a hollow inside left.
- Watch for
- Shallow, rocky inside; fall flat.
- Hard shorebreak; time your entry and exit.
- One main peak, crowded on good days.
- Best when
- Best on a SSW to NW swell (200°–315°) with ENE offshore wind, at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
MoreLess about Windansea
Longboards at 2–4 ft, shortboards at 3–8 ft. Any tide works. Works year-round, on south swells in spring and summer and west swells in fall and winter.
One main peak takes nearly the whole crowd, and good days fill it fast, so expect to wait for a set.
The palm-roofed shack above the peak dates to 1947 and is a city historic landmark.
Winter swells bring the biggest days, and summer runs smaller over the reef.
- Local tip
- The channel sits just south of the shack; paddle out there. Street parking on Neptune Place fills early, so try Bonair Street, and plan on no restrooms.
GOOD TIDE TODAY8:50–11:00 AM2:40–5:20 PM
Guide updated October 2026
Spot research: WannaSurf, Mondo Surf, Wikipedia, Surf-Forecast, Go Surfing San Diego, Surf Trips, Deepswell and City of San Diego.
Send a spot correctionLive buoy Scripps Nearshore
- WAVES
- 3.8 ft
- PERIOD
- 14s
- FROM
- WNW 299°
- WATER
- 76°
Observed 1:30 PM · 53 min old
7-day surf
LB longboard · SB shortboard
Thu 12 PM · now
4–5 ft · chest to head ·
5 mph onshore · tide 0.8 ft falling
Swell near the beach: 4.5 ft every 14 s from W
| Time | Surf | Rating | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 AM | 5–6 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good, dark hours | 4 mph offshore | 0.6 ft and rising |
| Thu 3 AM | 5–6 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Good | 4 mph offshore | 2.8 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 AM | 5–6 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Good | 5 mph offshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 AM | 5–6 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 3.7 ft and falling |
| Thu 12 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair | 5 mph onshore | 0.8 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 11 mph, gusts 15, cross-onshore | 1.8 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 13, cross-onshore | 4.3 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Epic, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 7, cross-offshore | 3.2 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 9, cross-onshore | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 6 mph offshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 5 mph offshore | 5.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 4.4 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 8 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.8 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 9 mph, gusts 11, cross-onshore | 0.7 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 5 mph, gusts 12, cross | 3.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 9, cross-offshore | 3.7 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 8, offshore | 1.5 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 8 mph, gusts 14, cross-offshore | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 7 mph, gusts 10, offshore | 5.5 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 6 mph, gusts 13, offshore | 5.0 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 7 mph, gusts 10, cross-onshore | 1.1 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 9 mph, gusts 13, cross-onshore | 0.0 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 16, cross-onshore | 2.8 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 5 mph, gusts 14, cross | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 4, glassy | 2.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 4 mph offshore | 5.3 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 5.5 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 5 mph onshore | 1.7 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 8 mph, gusts 9, cross-onshore | −0.4 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 5 mph, gusts 12, cross | 1.9 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 4, glassy | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 2.5 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Mon 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Epic, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 5.0 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good | 3 mph offshore | 5.8 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair | 5 mph onshore | 2.4 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 PM | 5–6 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair | 8 mph cross-onshore | −0.5 ft and falling |
| Mon 6 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph onshore | 1.1 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 3.6 ft and rising |
| Tue 12 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross | 2.9 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Epic, shortboard Good | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Tue 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 4.6 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 0 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 5.9 ft and falling |
| Tue 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 6 mph onshore | 3.1 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 7 mph onshore | −0.2 ft and falling |
| Tue 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph cross-onshore | 0.5 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 5, cross-onshore | 3.0 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 5, cross-onshore | 3.2 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.5 ft and rising |
| Wed 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 2 mph glassy | 4.3 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 5.8 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 6 mph onshore | 3.7 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable | 8 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.4 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 9, cross-onshore | 0.2 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 5, cross | 2.4 ft and rising |
Today’s tide
GOOD 8:50–11:00 AM2:40–5:20 PM
La Jolla · feet above low water
Swell
New SSW swell fills in Monday morning.
Best session from it: Tue 6–10:45 AM at Windansea
Details
New SSW swell (13s) fills in Monday morning, peaks Monday midday.
Wave forecast checked against the live Scripps Nearshore buoy.
Updated 2:03 PM · CDIP/Scripps, Open-Meteo and NOAA.
Common questions
Is Windansea good for beginners?
Not really; it suits surfers with some experience.
What tide is best at Windansea?
Any tide works, but it’s best at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
What swell works at Windansea?
A SSW to NW swell (200°–315°) is best, with ENE offshore wind. It picks up swell from S to NW (185°–325°). Works year-round, on south swells in spring and summer and west swells in fall and winter.
What board should I ride at Windansea?
Either works: longboards at 2–4 ft, shortboards at 3–8 ft.
What should I watch out for at Windansea?
Shallow, rocky inside, so fall flat; hard shorebreak, so time your entry and exit; and one main peak, crowded on good days.