Surf spot

Imperial Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Imperial Beach in USA, California, San Diego County. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, San Diego County
Coordinates: 32.5784, -117.1343

Metric
Metric	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00
Wave height (m)	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	1	1	1.1	1.1	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.8
Wave direction	SSW	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	WNW	WNW	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	SW	W	WSW	W	W	SSW	SW	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	W
Wave period (s)	11	4.8	4.8	4.8	4.9	4.8	4.7	4.8	4.7	4.8	5	5.3	5.5	5.5	6	6.1	6.1	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.3	6.1	6	6	5.9	6	6.1	6.3	6.4	6.2	5.8	5.8	10.7	5.7	8	5.5	5.7	13.2	11	12.6	11.7	11.5	11.4	11.3	11.2	11.1	10.9	12.3	12.2	11.7	11.6	11.5	11.4	11	10.9	4.2
Wave energy (kJ)	125	30	28	27	29	32	32	33	33	38	49	62	67	76	112	130	142	162	158	142	128	118	113	97	84	85	84	85	85	80	60	50	105	37	55	30	32	125	99	137	142	137	135	132	129	127	124	102	99	99	90	89	87	81	81	21
Wind speed (km/h)	7.2	6.3	8.2	14.3	15.8	12.1	8.7	6.7	8.6	8	7.4	13	16.6	12.8	8.8	6.8	6.9	9	7.5	14.3	17.3	14.5	10.3	8.4	7.9	8	3.1	12	16.1	13.4	8.4	6.8	5.8	5.4	5.1	10.2	14.5	12.3	9.8	7.9	7.4	6.9	6.6	10.1	15.8	16	11	10.2	9.4	9.4	7.9	11.1	16.7	12.1	11.2	8.5
Wind direction	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWGlassy	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWCross-on	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NNWCross-on	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore

Imperial Beach is the southernmost beach city in California, located in San Diego County near the U.S.–Mexico border. As a surf spot, it’s known for a laid-back, local vibe and a stretch of sandy beach breaks that can produce fun waves when conditions line up.

Surf character

Type: Mostly beach break
Wave quality: Can be fun and playful, though often less consistent than better-known San Diego breaks
Best swell: Usually does better with south swells and some west swell
Wind: Morning conditions are often cleaner; afternoon onshore winds can make it choppy
Bottom: Sand, so the peaks can shift with tides and storms

Conditions

Tide sensitivity: Varies by section, but many peaks work best at mid tide
Crowds: Generally lighter than major San Diego surf spots, though it can still get busy when conditions are good
Skill level: Can suit beginners to intermediates depending on the day, but stronger surf and currents may challenge less experienced surfers

Atmosphere

Imperial Beach has a chill, less commercial feel compared with some North County surf towns. The beach is wide and open, with views toward the Imperial Beach Pier and the border area. It’s a classic Southern California beach town surf environment rather than a highly polished destination.

Things to keep in mind

Rip currents can be an issue, especially after swell
Water quality can occasionally be a concern after rain, as in many urban coastal areas
Because it’s a sand-bottom beach break, conditions can change quickly