SoCal Surf Forecast for Thursday, September 24: Small and Mellow

Thursday, September 24 brings a small-wave outlook for San Diego and Orange County, with ratings topping out at Fair. T-Street offers the strongest listed afternoon session, while several San Diego breaks earn Fair daily ratings with their best hour later in the evening. The weather stays dry: every supplied daily forecast shows zero precipitation. Keep expectations modest and choose your timing carefully.

San Diego County

Windansea, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Crystal Pier and Ocean Beach Pier are among the county’s best-rated options, all earning Fair daily ratings. Farther north, Cardiff Reef, D Street, Moonlight State Beach, Ponto, Tamarack and Oceanside Pier Northside also reach Fair. Their daily breaking-wave estimates are 2.5 feet, with the model pointing to around 7 PM as the best hour.

There is an important timing distinction: the supplied 4–6 PM windows remain Poor, with 1–2-foot surf at those breaks where a window is provided. A Fair daily rating does not mean the entire afternoon delivers that quality. Windansea, D Street, Moonlight State Beach and Ponto share afternoon scores of 24/100, so there is little separation among those choices.

The swell periods run roughly 10.6–12.25 seconds across the county. Daily wind speeds range from 6.4 to 8.3 knots, while most listed afternoon windows show 6 knots and a falling tide. That is relatively light wind, but limited surf size keeps the outlook restrained.

La Jolla Shores, Scripps Pier, Blacks Beach, Sunset Cliffs and Swami's remain Poor, with 0–1-foot afternoon surf. Imperial Beach Pier also stays Poor today; its best hour is around 6 PM rather than the more common 7 PM timing.

Orange County

T-Street is the clearest afternoon pick, earning Fair at 1–2 feet and 47/100 during 4–6 PM, with its best hour around 5 PM. The window brings 4-knot wind and a falling tide. Its daily breaking-wave estimate is higher, at 2.5 feet, underscoring the difference between the daily summary and the specific session forecast.

San Clemente State Beach, Doheny State Beach, Salt Creek and Newport Point also carry Fair daily ratings, with their best hour around 6 PM. Their listed 4–6 PM windows, however, are Poor at 1–2 feet. T-Street therefore stands apart on afternoon quality rather than size alone.

Swell periods are around 12 seconds near San Clemente and Dana Point, easing to 10.4–10.9 seconds at several Huntington Beach breaks. Afternoon winds are 4 knots near San Clemente, 5 knots around Dana Point through Huntington Beach, and 7 knots at Surfside. All supplied afternoon windows show a falling tide.

Looking ahead

Friday, September 25 stays small, with mid-period SSW swell, generally light, glassy wind and a rising tide. Many breaks hold at Fair, 1–2 feet—not a substantial size upgrade.

Imperial Beach Pier and Coronado Beach improve to Fair. In Orange County, Huntington Beach Pier Southside and 17th Street reach Fair, while Newport Lower Jetties, River Jetties and Huntington St. slip to Poor at 0–1 foot. T-Street holds at Fair, 1–2 feet.

Surfer tip: Bring your small-wave board, and use the session-specific rating—not just the daily label—to plan your paddle-out.