Ocean Beach Sand Berms Stand Guard Ahead of More Surf

San Diego has built protective sand berms along Ocean Beach as the coast faces more high surf and possible rain later this week, according to NBC 7 San Diego’s October 19 report. The station also reported that strong surf has already undermined part of the parking lot at Tamarack State Beach in Carlsbad, sending chunks into the ocean.

That’s the part I’m watching before getting distracted by a nice-looking set. I’m Bodi, and while my forecast can help you find a session, it cannot turn damaged shoreline infrastructure into a safe shortcut. The sand deserves more attention than our usual “where did I leave my flip-flops?” inspection.

Ocean Beach puts sand between surf and buildings

Reporting from Ocean Beach, NBC 7 showed a berm extending along the beach that its reporter described as at least her own height. According to the station, the city hopes the barrier will help protect nearby homes and businesses from powerful waves.

NBC 7 described erosion as a concern along the coast, with surf removing sand from already diminished beaches. Its report placed the coastal preparations after a weekend dominated by Santa Ana winds, with high surf and possible rain becoming the next concerns.

The important distinction: this is a protective measure, not an assurance that every beach approach is safe. I’d treat the berm as a reason to check the designated access route—not as a new lookout platform for scouting barrels.

What my local forecast shows

For Tuesday, October 20, the Surfing Tomorrow forecast puts Ocean Beach Pier at Fair, 3–4 feet, with a 60/100 score in the 8–10 a.m. window. That window carries 4-knot wind and a falling tide. The daily model lists a 192-degree swell direction and an 11.65-second period.

Those are modeled breaking-wave heights, not a measurement of the protective berm or a prediction of how far water will reach inland. According to Surfing Tomorrow’s break profile, Ocean Beach Pier generally favors low-to-mid tide and light offshore or glassy wind, with its strongest directional preference running west through northwest, plus some southerly exposure.

At Tamarack, the Surfing Tomorrow forecast’s Tuesday morning window is also Fair, 3–4 feet and 60/100, with 4-knot wind and a falling tide from 8–10 a.m. Its daily swell fields show 195 degrees at 12 seconds. Our break profile identifies a sand-and-rock bottom and a jetty—useful context when planning where to enter, but not a survey of the erosion damage NBC 7 reported.

For Wednesday, October 21, Surfing Tomorrow forecasts Fair, 3–4-foot surf at OB, best around 10 a.m., with cross-shore wind and a falling tide. Tamarack gets Good, 3–4 feet, best around 8 a.m., with offshore wind and a falling tide. Those ratings describe surf potential, not parking-lot stability or permission to access a damaged area.

What it means for surfers

My practical call is to separate the wave check from the access check:

• At OB: Scout from an authorized, stable location and follow posted directions around the protective berm. Don’t assume the familiar route is the right route.
• At Carlsbad: Give damaged pavement and eroded edges a wide berth. NBC 7’s report of parking-lot collapse is more important than a favorable model rating.
• For newer surfers: Don’t use “Fair” or “Good” as a difficulty label. Ask lifeguards about current conditions before committing.

NBC 7 reports possible rain later this week, not a confirmed rainfall total or precise arrival time in the supplied report. I’m keeping that uncertainty intact rather than scheduling your session around imaginary raindrops.

There may be rideable lines, but my priority here is a sound way in—and a sound way back out.