Imperial Beach Pier
South Bay · San Diego, United States · Beach break
Local time
14:00
Sunrise
06:41
Sunset
18:39
Data source
Preview
Wave height
1.8m
Excellent · 96/100Primary swell
1.5 m
12s · W
Wind
3 km/h
Offshore · E
Sea
18.2°C
3/2 mm suit
Tide
Rising
+0.0 m · High 17:00
Forecast integrity.
Every recommendation carries its source state, model coverage and sampling context.
Model agreement
—
Comparison unavailable
Cross-model consensus
The primary forecast remains available without a cross-model signal.
Wave spread
—
Period spread
—
Horizon
—
Marine
Deterministic preview guidance
Wind & weather
Deterministic preview guidance
Tide context
Modelled preview phase
Ocean station
Independent observation used when a suitable station is available.
Cleaner signal needed
WAIT
Hold for a fresher or better-aligned window.
Why this call.
A conservative read of forecast quality, independent observations, model spread and the exact break profile.
Best window
14:00–17:00
Epic · 1.5–1.6 m · good tide fit
Model agreement
Comparison pending
A single-model forecast is available without a cross-check.
Observed ocean
Checking nearby stations
Looking for an independent real-ocean signal.
Break profile
Spot calibrated
Imperial Beach Pier · <1 km model sample · 45% coverage
Higher bars mean a cleaner model signal
San Diego · Live coast intelligence
Forecast meets the real coast.
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 guideCalibrated geometry
Faces SW · 245°
Clean offshore axis NE · Intermediate profile
Wave
Shifting left + right sandbar peaks
Sand around pier structure
Swell window
W–NW / S–SW
0.6–2.5 m profile range
Clean wind
E offshore
Applied to wind scoring
Tide window
Mid tide · bank dependent
Profile-aware timing
Know before you paddle
Live conditions and local advice always override this profile.
Hourly forecast
The next 48 hours
Tide intelligence
Read the water.
Tide phase, speed and range interpreted through this break's own profile, with offshore-current context and buoy verification.
Water level now
Mid · rising
+0.0 m
relative to MSL
Fast rise
+0.56 m/h
High · 17:00
In 3 hours
2.3 m
Mesotidal
0.35 km/h
Flowing NW
Spot tide profile · Adaptive
Mid tide · bank dependent
Medium water is the baseline, but sandbar position decides whether the pier or the southern peaks are cleaner.
Profile source · Surfline Imperial Beach Pier guideHigh
28 Mon · 17:00
+1.1 m
Low
28 Mon · 23:00
-1.1 m
High
29 Tue · 05:00
+1.1 m
Low
29 Tue · 11:00
-1.1 m
Tide sync windows
Best upcoming tide phases for this break
Tide fit only · waves and wind scored separately
29 Tue
01:00–03:00 · -0.1 m
30 Wed
02:00–04:00 · +0.1 m
30 Wed
08:00–10:00 · -0.1 m
Tides and currents use the Météo-France global ocean model via Open-Meteo at roughly 8 km resolution. Sea level includes tide and atmospheric effects and is referenced to global mean sea level, not a local chart datum. Coastal accuracy is limited; never use this for navigation.
7-day outlook
Pick your day.
Model: SWELLRADAR preview model
Today
2.3 m
12s · W
Excellent · 96
29 Tue
2.3 m
13s · W
Excellent · 96
30 Wed
2.0 m
11s · W
Excellent · 96
Nearby decision radar
Stay here—or move?
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
Fallback preview
Wave guidance, tide phase and offshore currents are modelled unless a nearby buoy observation is shown.