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Updating conditions · Calibrated break

Imperial Beach Pier

South Bay · San Diego, United States · Beach break

Local time — · Sunrise 06:18 · Sunset 16:49

Verified data gate

Reading the ocean.

SWELLRADAR is requesting a verified marine run for Imperial Beach Pier.

Marine sourceChecking
Synthetic valuesBlocked
RefreshAutomatic
Spot calibratedSpot-calibrated profile

Spot intelligence.

Imperial Beach receives southwest swell more directly than much of central San Diego. The working bank can sit near the pier or farther south, so the best peak is not fixed.

Profile source · Surfline Imperial Beach Pier guide
NS

Profile geometry

Swell axis WSW · 245°

Offshore wind from ENE · Intermediate profile

Wave

Shifting left + right sandbar peaks

Sand around pier structure

Swell window

W–NW / S–SW

0.6–2.5 m offshore ranking band

Clean wind

E offshore

Applied to wind scoring

Tide window

Mid tide · bank dependent

Qualitative timing guidance

Field guide

Read the break.

Character

01

Imperial Beach Pier is defined by shifting left + right sandbar peaks over sand around pier structure. The shape can change with swell angle, period and the active section, so the live score should always be paired with a visual check from shore.

Best setup

02

W–NW / S–SW swell, e offshore and mid tide · bank dependent form the profile baseline. SWELLRADAR treats 0.6–2.5 m as a working range, not a guarantee of breaking-wave size.

Lineup read

03

Choose a peak that matches your experience and reassess it as tide and crowd change. Pay particular attention to check current water-quality closures, pier pilings, rip currents. Local signs and advice always take priority.

Know before you paddle

Live conditions and local advice always override this profile.

Check current water-quality closuresPier pilingsRip currentsShifting sandbars
Optional community layerRecent surfer reportsVoluntary and potentially incomplete. Not used for the forecast or Surf Score.

The break

Beach break

Intermediate. Works best with W–NW / S–SW swell.

Timing

E offshore

Mid tide · bank dependent. Re-check local observations and the lineup before you paddle out.

Data note

Model data unavailable

SWELLRADAR withholds numerical conditions, scores and surf windows until a quality-checked marine forecast is available.