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PURESURFERSLIVE SURF ATLAS
CALIFORNIA / La JollaSPOT / 130

Bird Rock.

Reef / beach

Left & right32.813° N / 117.274° W
Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate Bird Rock catalogue locationSATELLITE / N ↑
Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
Powered by Esri · Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community.
CLOSE-UP / N ↑
OPEN THE LIVE ATLAS ↗
Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors
Open Bird Rock on the map ↗Best surf near me

Forecast & tide at a glance

Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.

Estimated surf face3.1 ftOlder cached forecast Thu Nov 12, 9:00am Pacific
Coastal wind5.2 mphSE from · older cache
NOAA tide reference5.5 ftMLLW · La Jolla

READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS

Swell by swell.

Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.

Thu Nov 12, 9:00am Pacific

MFWAM · 2 components
Primary swell
3.2ft Hs

W from · 274° · 9.9 s

3.2 feet
Wind sea
0.0ft Hs

No energy reported for this component

0.0 feet
GFS · all-zero feed unconfirmed

This model reports only zeros across its cached partition forecast while another model reports swell. This is not confirmation of flat surf. Check the other source or try refreshing later.

Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.

Coastal wind retrieved Thu Nov 12, 8:15am · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Nov 12, 8:15am (older cache) · ECMWF Nov 12, 8:15am (older cache) · MFWAM Nov 12, 8:45am. Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Tide predictions: La Jolla, 6 km reference; retrieved Thu Nov 12, 7:00am. Station predictions can differ locally.

Seven-day overview

06:00–19:00 forecast hours; daily values are not a full-day maximum.
Pacific dayEstimated surf faceMean windHours available
Thu Nov 123.1 ft6.5 mph14/14
Fri Nov 134.0 ft8.3 mph14/14
Sat Nov 145.4 ft8.7 mph14/14
Sun Nov 154.4 ft5.8 mph14/14
Mon Nov 164.0 ft6.0 mph14/14
Tue Nov 174.8 ft18.5 mph14/14
Wed Nov 183.1 ft9.9 mph14/14
Hourly details · next 72 hours
Pacific timeEstimated surf faceModel rangeSet proxySwell fromWindTide MLLWModels
Thu 9:00am3.1 ft2.9–3.2 ft4.6 ftWSW · 12.7 s5.2 mph SE5.5 ft2
Thu 10:00am3.0 ft2.9–3.1 ft4.5 ftWSW · 12.7 s5.9 mph SSW5.5 ft2
Thu 11:00am3.0 ft2.9–3.2 ft4.5 ftWSW · 12.8 s7.8 mph SW5.1 ft2
Thu 12:00pm3.0 ft2.9–3.1 ft4.5 ftWSW · 12.8 s8.5 mph SW4.3 ft2
Thu 1:00pm3.0 ft2.9–3.1 ft4.5 ftWSW · 12.8 s8.9 mph SW3.2 ft2
Thu 2:00pm3.0 ft2.9–3.1 ft4.6 ftWSW · 12.8 s8.9 mph SW2.1 ft2
Thu 3:00pm3.1 ft2.9–3.2 ft4.6 ftWSW · 12.8 s9.5 mph WSW1.1 ft2
Thu 4:00pm3.1 ft3.0–3.2 ft4.6 ftWSW · 12.8 s8.8 mph WSW0.3 ft2
Thu 5:00pm3.1 ft3.0–3.3 ft4.7 ftWSW · 12.8 s5.7 mph WSW0.0 ft2
Thu 6:00pm3.2 ft3.1–3.3 ft4.8 ftWSW · 12.7 s3.7 mph WSW0.1 ft2
Thu 7:00pm3.2 ft3.1–3.4 ft4.9 ftWSW · 12.8 s2.7 mph SW0.6 ft2
Thu 8:00pm3.3 ft3.1–3.4 ft4.9 ftWSW · 12.9 s4.8 mph SSW1.2 ft2
Thu 9:00pm3.3 ft3.2–3.5 ft5.0 ftWSW · 13.0 s5.7 mph SW2.0 ft2
Thu 10:00pm3.4 ft3.2–3.5 ft5.1 ftWSW · 13.2 s5.0 mph SW2.6 ft2
Thu 11:00pm3.4 ft3.3–3.6 ft5.2 ftWSW · 13.3 s4.8 mph ESE3.0 ft2
Fri 12:00am3.5 ft3.4–3.6 ft5.2 ftWSW · 13.5 s5.3 mph E3.1 ft2
Fri 1:00am3.6 ft3.4–3.7 ft5.3 ftWSW · 13.6 s4.6 mph ESE3.1 ft2
Fri 2:00am3.6 ft3.5–3.7 ft5.4 ftWSW · 13.6 s4.9 mph SSE3.0 ft2
Fri 3:00am3.7 ft3.6–3.9 ft5.6 ftWSW · 13.7 s4.8 mph SE2.9 ft2
Fri 4:00am3.8 ft3.6–3.9 ft5.7 ftWSW · 13.7 s5.6 mph ESE2.9 ft2
Fri 5:00am3.8 ft3.7–4.0 ft5.7 ftWSW · 13.6 s5.4 mph ESE3.1 ft2
Fri 6:00am3.8 ft3.7–4.0 ft5.7 ftWSW · 13.5 s7.6 mph ESE3.5 ft2
Fri 7:00am3.9 ft3.7–4.0 ft5.8 ftWSW · 13.4 s7.1 mph ESE4.1 ft2
Fri 8:00am3.9 ft3.7–4.1 ft5.8 ftWSW · 13.3 s8.3 mph ESE4.6 ft2
Fri 9:00am3.9 ft3.7–4.1 ft5.8 ftWSW · 13.3 s8.3 mph SE5.0 ft2
Fri 10:00am3.9 ft3.7–4.1 ft5.8 ftWSW · 13.1 s8.0 mph SSE5.2 ft2
Fri 11:00am3.9 ft3.7–4.1 ft5.9 ftWSW · 12.9 s7.8 mph S5.1 ft2
Fri 12:00pm3.9 ft3.7–4.1 ft5.8 ftWSW · 12.6 s9.6 mph SSW4.6 ft2
Fri 1:00pm3.9 ft3.7–4.1 ft5.8 ftWSW · 12.3 s13.0 mph SSW3.8 ft2
Fri 2:00pm3.9 ft3.7–4.1 ft5.9 ftWSW · 12.0 s11.9 mph SW2.8 ft2
Fri 3:00pm4.0 ft3.8–4.2 ft6.0 ftWSW · 11.8 s9.4 mph SW1.9 ft2
Fri 4:00pm4.0 ft3.9–4.2 ft6.0 ftWSW · 11.6 s8.5 mph SW1.0 ft2
Fri 5:00pm4.0 ft3.9–4.2 ft6.1 ftWSW · 11.4 s7.3 mph SSE0.5 ft2
Fri 6:00pm4.1 ft4.0–4.2 ft6.2 ftWSW · 11.4 s3.2 mph WSW0.3 ft2
Fri 7:00pm4.1 ft4.0–4.3 ft6.2 ftWSW · 11.3 s6.1 mph WNW0.4 ft2
Fri 8:00pm4.2 ft4.1–4.3 ft6.3 ftWSW · 11.2 s8.8 mph NW0.8 ft2
Fri 9:00pm4.3 ft4.2–4.4 ft6.4 ftWSW · 11.1 s8.7 mph WNW1.4 ft2
Fri 10:00pm4.3 ft4.3–4.4 ft6.5 ftWSW · 10.9 s7.4 mph WNW2.0 ft2
Fri 11:00pm4.5 ft4.4–4.5 ft6.7 ftWSW · 10.4 s7.1 mph W2.6 ft2
Sat 12:00am4.5 ft4.5–4.6 ft6.8 ftWSW · 9.7 s10.1 mph W2.9 ft2
Sat 1:00am4.3 ft4.0–4.6 ft6.5 ftW · 9.9 s9.7 mph W3.1 ft2
Sat 2:00am4.8 ft4.7–4.8 ft7.2 ftWSW · 9.1 s8.0 mph W3.1 ft2
Sat 3:00am4.9 ft4.8–5.0 ft7.4 ftWSW · 9.2 s8.5 mph W3.1 ft2
Sat 4:00am5.1 ft5.0–5.1 ft7.6 ftWSW · 9.3 s8.2 mph WSW3.0 ft2
Sat 5:00am5.1 ft5.0–5.2 ft7.6 ftW · 9.5 s9.6 mph SW3.1 ft2
Sat 6:00am5.1 ft5.0–5.2 ft7.7 ftW · 9.7 s10.6 mph SW3.3 ft2
Sat 7:00am4.8 ft4.6–5.0 ft7.2 ftW · 10.0 s11.7 mph WSW3.7 ft2
Sat 8:00am4.8 ft4.6–5.1 ft7.2 ftW · 10.4 s11.3 mph WSW4.1 ft2
Sat 9:00am5.3 ft5.1–5.4 ft7.9 ftW · 10.5 s11.3 mph W4.5 ft2
Sat 10:00am5.3 ft5.2–5.4 ft8.0 ftW · 10.8 s9.2 mph W4.8 ft2
Sat 11:00am5.4 ft5.3–5.5 ft8.1 ftW · 11.1 s8.1 mph W4.9 ft2
Sat 12:00pm5.5 ft5.4–5.6 ft8.2 ftW · 11.5 s8.8 mph WSW4.6 ft2
Sat 1:00pm5.6 ft5.4–5.7 ft8.3 ftW · 11.8 s9.8 mph W4.2 ft2
Sat 2:00pm5.6 ft5.5–5.8 ft8.4 ftW · 12.1 s10.0 mph W3.4 ft2
Sat 3:00pm5.7 ft5.6–5.8 ft8.6 ftW · 12.3 s8.3 mph WNW2.6 ft2
Sat 4:00pm5.8 ft5.7–5.9 ft8.7 ftW · 12.5 s7.1 mph WNW1.8 ft2
Sat 5:00pm5.8 ft5.8–5.9 ft8.7 ftW · 12.7 s6.2 mph WNW1.1 ft2
Sat 6:00pm5.8 ft5.7–5.9 ft8.7 ftW · 12.8 s5.2 mph W0.7 ft2
Sat 7:00pm5.3 ft4.9–5.8 ft8.0 ftW · 14.3 s4.3 mph W0.5 ft2
Sat 8:00pm5.8 ft5.8–5.8 ft8.7 ftW · 12.9 s3.3 mph W0.6 ft2
Sat 9:00pm5.8 ft5.8–5.8 ft8.7 ftW · 14.3 s2.6 mph WSW1.0 ft2
Sat 10:00pm5.8 ft5.7–5.8 ft8.7 ftW · 14.3 s2.8 mph SW1.5 ft2
Sat 11:00pm5.7 ft5.7–5.7 ft8.5 ftW · 14.2 s3.2 mph SW2.1 ft2
Sun 12:00am5.2 ft4.8–5.6 ft7.8 ftW · 14.2 s3.7 mph SW2.6 ft2
Sun 1:00am5.1 ft4.6–5.5 ft7.6 ftW · 14.1 s3.9 mph WSW3.0 ft2
Sun 2:00am5.5 ft5.5–5.5 ft8.2 ftW · 13.9 s3.5 mph W3.2 ft2
Sun 3:00am5.4 ft5.3–5.5 ft8.1 ftW · 12.9 s3.8 mph WNW3.3 ft2
Sun 4:00am5.4 ft5.3–5.4 ft8.0 ftW · 12.9 s3.8 mph WNW3.3 ft2
Sun 5:00am5.3 ft5.2–5.4 ft7.9 ftW · 12.8 s3.9 mph WNW3.3 ft2
Sun 6:00am5.2 ft5.0–5.3 ft7.7 ftW · 12.7 s3.3 mph WNW3.3 ft2
Sun 7:00am4.6 ft4.4–4.9 ft7.0 ftW · 13.3 s2.7 mph NW3.5 ft2
Sun 8:00am4.5 ft4.3–4.8 ft6.8 ftW · 13.2 s2.0 mph NW3.7 ft2
Sun 9:00am4.5 ft4.2–4.7 ft6.7 ftW · 13.1 s1.5 mph WNW4.0 ft2

Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.

This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.

Know the spot

The Bird Rock corridor surf zone.

Break type
Reef / beach
Wave direction
Left & right
Reported difficulty
Intermediate
Bottom
Rock / reef
Reported swell preference
SW–NW
Reported tide preference
Low–mid

A named neighborhood coast segment that deserves explicit memory. Source note: Imported 6.8 catalogue; place and confirm the takeoff.

Before paddling out: Currents, crowding, submerged rock or cobble, water-quality changes after rain, and shifting bars.

Public access Owner-placed takeoff; not a survey

Source references

Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.

THE FIELD GUIDE / Bird Rock

Read this stretch of coast.

Follow the swell window

The catalogue’s reported preference for Bird Rock is “SW–NW”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.

Check the water level

Reported tide preference: Low–mid. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.

Read the bottom and the lineup

Catalogue bottom: Rock / reef. Reported difficulty: Intermediate. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.

A useful note for next time

Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.

Camera references nearby

Windansea ↗

The Surfers View · about 2.1 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Publicly listed Windansea reef-camera page.

Pacific Beach ↗

HDOnTap · about 2.3 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Pacific Beach oceanfront surf view near the Crystal Pier area.

La Jolla Shores ↗

HDOnTap · about 5.1 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Beach and surf view at La Jolla Shores.

Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.

Make the next session easier

Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work

Nearby spots to compare

PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.

COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE

Waves at the model cells

3.94–3.94 ft

Significant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.

Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.