W from · 278° · 9.5 s
South Carlsbad Campground.
Beach / reef
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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.
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.
Wed Nov 11, 9:00pm Pacific
MFWAM · 2 components
No energy reported for this component
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 Wed Nov 11, 8:00pm · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Nov 11, 8:00pm (older cache) · ECMWF Nov 11, 8:00pm (older cache) · MFWAM Nov 11, 8:00pm (older cache). 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, 27 km reference; retrieved Wed Nov 11, 6:10pm. Station predictions can differ locally.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Estimated surf face | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 11 | 3.0 ft | 4.5 mph | 14/14 |
| Thu Nov 12 | 2.8 ft | 5.4 mph | 14/14 |
| Fri Nov 13 | 3.7 ft | 9.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Nov 14 | 5.0 ft | 3.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Nov 15 | 4.1 ft | 5.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Nov 16 | 4.1 ft | 5.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Nov 17 | 3.9 ft | 5.5 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Estimated surf face | Model range | Set proxy | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 9:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.7–3.5 ft | 4.7 ft | W · 12.5 s | 2.8 mph SE | 2.6 ft | 2 |
| Wed 10:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.7–3.5 ft | 4.7 ft | W · 12.5 s | 5.8 mph E | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Wed 11:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.7–3.4 ft | 4.6 ft | W · 12.5 s | 5.4 mph E | 3.3 ft | 2 |
| Thu 12:00am | 3.0 ft | 2.7–3.4 ft | 4.6 ft | W · 12.4 s | 5.6 mph ENE | 3.2 ft | 2 |
| Thu 1:00am | 3.0 ft | 2.7–3.4 ft | 4.5 ft | W · 12.4 s | 5.5 mph ENE | 3.0 ft | 2 |
| Thu 2:00am | 3.0 ft | 2.6–3.3 ft | 4.4 ft | W · 12.3 s | 4.8 mph ENE | 2.8 ft | 2 |
| Thu 3:00am | 3.0 ft | 2.6–3.3 ft | 4.4 ft | W · 12.3 s | 4.1 mph ENE | 2.6 ft | 2 |
| Thu 4:00am | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.3 ft | 4.4 ft | W · 12.3 s | 3.7 mph ENE | 2.8 ft | 2 |
| Thu 5:00am | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.3 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.2 s | 5.8 mph ENE | 3.2 ft | 2 |
| Thu 6:00am | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.3 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.2 s | 5.9 mph ENE | 3.8 ft | 2 |
| Thu 7:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.4–3.2 ft | 4.2 ft | W · 12.1 s | 5.2 mph ENE | 4.5 ft | 2 |
| Thu 8:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.4–3.2 ft | 4.2 ft | W · 12.1 s | 3.9 mph ENE | 5.1 ft | 2 |
| Thu 9:00am | 2.8 ft | 2.4–3.2 ft | 4.1 ft | W · 12.1 s | 1.5 mph NE | 5.5 ft | 2 |
| Thu 10:00am | 2.7 ft | 2.3–3.1 ft | 4.1 ft | WSW · 12.1 s | 3.8 mph SW | 5.5 ft | 2 |
| Thu 11:00am | 2.7 ft | 2.3–3.1 ft | 4.1 ft | WSW · 12.2 s | 7.0 mph SW | 5.1 ft | 2 |
| Thu 12:00pm | 2.7 ft | 2.3–3.1 ft | 4.0 ft | WSW · 12.2 s | 7.5 mph SW | 4.3 ft | 2 |
| Thu 1:00pm | 2.7 ft | 2.3–3.1 ft | 4.0 ft | WSW · 12.3 s | 8.1 mph WSW | 3.2 ft | 2 |
| Thu 2:00pm | 2.7 ft | 2.3–3.1 ft | 4.1 ft | WSW · 12.2 s | 8.4 mph WSW | 2.1 ft | 2 |
| Thu 3:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.4–3.2 ft | 4.1 ft | WSW · 12.2 s | 9.2 mph WSW | 1.1 ft | 2 |
| Thu 4:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.4–3.2 ft | 4.2 ft | WSW · 12.2 s | 7.6 mph W | 0.3 ft | 2 |
| Thu 5:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.2 ft | 4.3 ft | WSW · 12.2 s | 4.6 mph WSW | 0.0 ft | 2 |
| Thu 6:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.2 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 12.4 s | 1.3 mph WSW | 0.1 ft | 2 |
| Thu 7:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.6–3.3 ft | 4.4 ft | W · 12.5 s | 2.2 mph SSE | 0.6 ft | 2 |
| Thu 8:00pm | 3.0 ft | 2.6–3.4 ft | 4.5 ft | W · 12.5 s | 5.2 mph ESE | 1.2 ft | 2 |
| Thu 9:00pm | 3.0 ft | 2.6–3.4 ft | 4.5 ft | W · 12.6 s | 5.1 mph ESE | 2.0 ft | 2 |
| Thu 10:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.7–3.4 ft | 4.6 ft | W · 12.7 s | 5.0 mph SE | 2.6 ft | 2 |
| Thu 11:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.7–3.5 ft | 4.7 ft | W · 12.8 s | 4.7 mph SE | 3.0 ft | 2 |
| Fri 12:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.8–3.6 ft | 4.8 ft | W · 12.9 s | 5.3 mph SSE | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Fri 1:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.8–3.6 ft | 4.8 ft | W · 13.0 s | 6.4 mph ESE | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Fri 2:00am | 3.3 ft | 2.8–3.7 ft | 4.9 ft | W · 13.2 s | 8.2 mph ESE | 3.0 ft | 2 |
| Fri 3:00am | 3.4 ft | 2.9–3.8 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 13.3 s | 7.7 mph E | 2.9 ft | 2 |
| Fri 4:00am | 3.4 ft | 2.9–3.9 ft | 5.1 ft | W · 13.4 s | 5.3 mph SE | 2.9 ft | 2 |
| Fri 5:00am | 3.5 ft | 3.0–4.0 ft | 5.2 ft | W · 13.5 s | 6.4 mph SE | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Fri 6:00am | 3.5 ft | 3.0–4.0 ft | 5.2 ft | W · 13.4 s | 9.4 mph SSE | 3.5 ft | 2 |
| Fri 7:00am | 3.5 ft | 3.0–4.1 ft | 5.3 ft | W · 13.4 s | 7.0 mph ESE | 4.1 ft | 2 |
| Fri 8:00am | 3.6 ft | 3.1–4.1 ft | 5.4 ft | W · 13.4 s | 7.0 mph ESE | 4.6 ft | 2 |
| Fri 9:00am | 3.6 ft | 3.1–4.2 ft | 5.4 ft | W · 13.4 s | 7.5 mph SSE | 5.0 ft | 2 |
| Fri 10:00am | 3.7 ft | 3.2–4.2 ft | 5.5 ft | W · 13.3 s | 9.8 mph SSE | 5.2 ft | 2 |
| Fri 11:00am | 3.7 ft | 3.2–4.2 ft | 5.5 ft | W · 13.2 s | 13.8 mph S | 5.1 ft | 2 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 3.8 ft | 3.3–4.2 ft | 5.6 ft | W · 13.1 s | 13.5 mph S | 4.6 ft | 2 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 3.8 ft | 3.3–4.2 ft | 5.6 ft | W · 13.0 s | 11.5 mph SSW | 3.8 ft | 2 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 3.8 ft | 3.3–4.2 ft | 5.7 ft | W · 12.7 s | 13.4 mph SW | 2.8 ft | 2 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 3.7 ft | 3.3–4.2 ft | 5.6 ft | W · 12.4 s | 11.0 mph SW | 1.9 ft | 2 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 3.8 ft | 3.3–4.2 ft | 5.6 ft | W · 12.1 s | 8.2 mph WSW | 1.0 ft | 2 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 3.8 ft | 3.3–4.3 ft | 5.7 ft | W · 11.7 s | 6.9 mph WSW | 0.5 ft | 2 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 3.8 ft | 3.3–4.3 ft | 5.7 ft | W · 11.4 s | 5.8 mph WSW | 0.3 ft | 2 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 3.8 ft | 3.3–4.3 ft | 5.8 ft | W · 11.2 s | 4.6 mph WSW | 0.4 ft | 2 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 3.9 ft | 3.3–4.4 ft | 5.8 ft | W · 11.1 s | 4.8 mph W | 0.8 ft | 2 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 3.9 ft | 3.3–4.4 ft | 5.8 ft | W · 11.1 s | 5.2 mph W | 1.4 ft | 2 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 3.9 ft | 3.3–4.4 ft | 5.8 ft | W · 11.1 s | 4.8 mph WSW | 2.0 ft | 2 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 3.9 ft | 3.4–4.5 ft | 5.9 ft | W · 11.1 s | 4.3 mph WSW | 2.6 ft | 2 |
| Sat 12:00am | 3.9 ft | 3.3–4.5 ft | 5.9 ft | W · 11.1 s | 5.6 mph W | 2.9 ft | 2 |
| Sat 1:00am | 3.9 ft | 3.3–4.5 ft | 5.9 ft | W · 11.1 s | 6.7 mph WNW | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Sat 2:00am | 4.0 ft | 3.5–4.6 ft | 6.0 ft | W · 10.8 s | 6.5 mph W | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Sat 3:00am | 4.1 ft | 3.6–4.6 ft | 6.2 ft | W · 10.5 s | 7.2 mph W | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Sat 4:00am | 4.3 ft | 3.8–4.8 ft | 6.4 ft | W · 10.3 s | 5.9 mph W | 3.0 ft | 2 |
| Sat 5:00am | 4.3 ft | 3.8–4.8 ft | 6.5 ft | W · 10.3 s | 7.4 mph WSW | 3.1 ft | 2 |
| Sat 6:00am | 4.5 ft | 3.9–5.0 ft | 6.7 ft | W · 10.4 s | 6.7 mph WSW | 3.3 ft | 2 |
| Sat 7:00am | 4.6 ft | 4.0–5.1 ft | 6.9 ft | W · 10.6 s | 4.8 mph SW | 3.7 ft | 2 |
| Sat 8:00am | 4.7 ft | 4.1–5.2 ft | 7.0 ft | W · 10.9 s | 5.0 mph SSW | 4.1 ft | 2 |
| Sat 9:00am | 4.8 ft | 4.3–5.3 ft | 7.1 ft | W · 11.3 s | 5.9 mph SSW | 4.5 ft | 2 |
| Sat 10:00am | 4.9 ft | 4.4–5.4 ft | 7.3 ft | W · 11.8 s | 5.0 mph SW | 4.8 ft | 2 |
| Sat 11:00am | 5.0 ft | 4.4–5.5 ft | 7.5 ft | W · 12.2 s | 3.8 mph SW | 4.9 ft | 2 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 5.1 ft | 4.5–5.6 ft | 7.6 ft | W · 12.5 s | 2.7 mph S | 4.6 ft | 2 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 5.2 ft | 4.6–5.8 ft | 7.8 ft | W · 12.9 s | 3.0 mph SE | 4.2 ft | 2 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.7–5.9 ft | 7.9 ft | W · 13.1 s | 3.0 mph SE | 3.4 ft | 2 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.7–5.9 ft | 7.9 ft | W · 13.4 s | 2.2 mph SE | 2.6 ft | 2 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.7–5.9 ft | 8.0 ft | W · 13.5 s | 2.0 mph S | 1.8 ft | 2 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.7–6.0 ft | 8.0 ft | W · 13.6 s | 2.4 mph SW | 1.1 ft | 2 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.7–6.0 ft | 8.0 ft | W · 13.7 s | 2.7 mph W | 0.7 ft | 2 |
| Sat 7:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.6–6.0 ft | 7.9 ft | W · 13.7 s | 3.2 mph W | 0.5 ft | 2 |
| Sat 8:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.6–6.0 ft | 7.9 ft | W · 13.7 s | 3.1 mph WNW | 0.6 ft | 2 |
| Sat 9:00pm | 5.2 ft | 4.5–5.9 ft | 7.8 ft | W · 13.7 s | 2.1 mph NW | 1.0 ft | 2 |
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 campground-front zone south of Carlsbad proper.
- Break type
- Beach / reef
- Wave direction
- Left & right
- Reported difficulty
- Intermediate
- Bottom
- Sand
- Reported swell preference
- SW–NW
- Reported tide preference
- Low–mid
This entry is mapped as a searchable surf zone rather than a claim of one frozen takeoff. Expect shifts with sand, tide, swell angle and crowd pressure. 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 shoreline or trail access; tide and closures matter Owner-placed takeoff; not a survey
Source references
- Visit Carlsbad — beaches and surf zone guide ↗
- Regional surf guide — Southern Orange County to San Diego corridor ↗
Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.
THE FIELD GUIDE / South Carlsbad Campground
Read this stretch of coast.
Follow the swell window
The catalogue’s reported preference for South Carlsbad Campground 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: Sand. 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
Terramar Point ↗
HDOnTap · about 3.7 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Pan-tilt-zoom Terramar Point surf view.
Carlsbad Beach ↗
HDOnTap / Seashore on the Sand · about 7.3 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Roaming beach/surf view near Ocean Street in Carlsbad Village.
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
Awaiting shared model dataSignificant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.








