SoCal Surf Forecast for Tuesday, September 29: Dawn Patrol Wins

West swell is doing the heavy lifting in San Diego this Tuesday, September 29, while southern energy keeps Orange County in play. My BODI Break Model calls for 4–6 ft surf at several San Diego standouts, with select reefs earning Epic morning ratings. The practical takeaway: prioritize the early session before Wednesday’s generally smaller surf. I’m Bodi, and today the snooze button is not your surfing coach.

San Diego County

My BODI model puts Bird Rock and Sunset Cliffs at Epic, 90/100, with 5–6 ft breaking surf from 6AM–8AM. Both windows have rising tides; winds run 4 kt and 3 kt, respectively. Bird Rock carries 12.6-second energy from 266°, nearly due west, while Sunset Cliffs has a shorter 9.9-second period from 277°. Those are different swell signatures—not one uniform long-period groundswell marching down the county.

Windansea also earns Epic, 86/100, according to my model: 4–6 ft from 6AM–8AM, 3 kt wind and a rising tide, with 12.6-second swell from 266°. I’d steer experienced reef surfers toward these three rather than learners. BODI’s break profiles identify reef at Bird Rock, reef and rock at Sunset Cliffs, and cobblestone over flat reef at Windansea. Respect the bottom; it does not accept apologies.

For sand-bottom alternatives, my model gives Pacific Beach Excellent, 82/100, with 4–5 ft surf, 4 kt wind and a rising tide from 6AM–8AM. Blacks Beach gets Good, 79/100, for that same window: 4–6 ft and 5 kt wind. I’d reserve the latter’s powerful beach-break setup for confident surfers rather than anyone still sorting out their paddle fitness.

Want less size? BODI has La Jolla Shores at Fair, 2–3 ft, from 6AM–8AM, with 3 kt wind and a rising tide. Its gentle, sand-bottom peaks make it my more approachable check for developing surfers—not a promise that every wave will behave.

Orange County

The Wedge tops my model’s Orange County session ratings at Epic, 90/100: 5–7 ft from 6AM–8AM, with 3 kt wind and a rising tide. Its swell reads 10.6 seconds from 221°, southwest. That is shorter and more westerly than its preferred 15-second-plus southerly setup. The Wedge is still wedging shorebreak beside a jetty, per BODI’s break profile; I’d treat this as expert territory, not a beginner’s invitation with confetti.

For a conventional surf session, BODI rates Lower Trestles Excellent, 82/100, at 4–5 ft from 6AM–8AM, with 13.65-second energy, 3 kt wind and a rising tide. Its cobblestone lefts and rights are my pick for capable surfers seeking that point-break setup; mind your footing entering and exiting.

My cleaner-wind pick is 17th Street: Excellent, 82/100, with 4–5 ft surf, 10.5-second energy and calm wind during the rising-tide 6AM–8AM window, according to BODI. Glassy gets my attention faster than a breakfast burrito—and that is saying something.

Swell outlook

For Wednesday, September 30, my model favors Bird Rock at Excellent, 4–5 ft around 6AM, with mid-period SW swell, offshore wind and a rising tide. Windansea eases to Good, 3–5 ft; Sunset Cliffs becomes Good, 4–5 ft, both best around 6AM.

BODI brings Lower Trestles down to Fair, 3–4 ft Wednesday, despite long-period SW groundswell, with cross-shore wind. Meanwhile, 17th Street stays Good at 3–4 ft with glassy wind around 6AM. Beyond Wednesday, I’m holding off on a firm new-swell arrival or weekend size call—no imaginary purple blobs on my watch.

Pick the break that fits your ability, catch the morning window, and paddle out with a plan.