California › San Diego County › La Jolla, San Diego
Updated Sep 23, 3:16 PM
Scripps Pier Surf Report
Live conditions / Forecast / Tide / Wind
Wave size
2–3 ft
Waist to chest high
Wind
4 ktsW
onshore
Tide
rising
Next high 5.4 ft at 7:51 PM
Conditions
Fair
2–4 ft with light onshore wind
Illustrative waist-to-chest high surf clip · matched to today's forecast
Scripps Pier is the beach break on either side of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier. It sits right next to the Scripps submarine canyon, which bends swell toward shore, so it's usually bigger and punchier than La Jolla Shores just to the south.
Conditions now
Fair
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Epic
2–4 ft with light onshore wind
Rated by the Surfing Tomorrow Break Model, our proprietary method. How it works
Est. surf at the break
2–3 ft
Surfing Tomorrow Break Model, calculated from buoy 46254 readings and Scripps Pier's swell window.
Wind now
4 kt
From W · onshore · forecast model for Sep 23, 3:00 PM
Swells at the buoy
From the buoy: measured by NOAA buoy 46254 (Scripps Nearshore (CDIP 201)) · reading taken Sep 23, 2:26 PM
Total wave height
3.3 ft7s W 278°
All wave energy combined
Groundswell
1 ft13.3s WNW
Longer-period swell from distant storms
Wind swell
2.6 ft7.1s W
Short-period chop from local or nearby wind
7-day surf
GFS-Wave + ECMWF modelForecast unavailable.
How to read this: the curve is our estimated surf size at Scripps Pier each day (from the forecast model, not the buoy); dot color is that day's rating using the day's strongest wind. Scripps Pier works best with 12s+.
Tide
La Jolla (Scripps Pier)
Low
2:05 AM
High
8:27 AM
Low
1:52 PM
High
7:51 PM
Low
2:28 AM
High
8:44 AM
Best conditions
- Swell window
- W through NW (250°–300°)
- Ideal period
- 12s+
- Tide
- Low to mid
- Wind
- Light E / NE (morning)
- Size
- 2–6 ft
Swell arriving — next 48 hours
Hourly swell height and period from the GFS-Wave / ECMWF marine model at 32.867, -117.257
Peak in the next 48h: 0.0 ft around Wed 3 PM
Longest period: 0s — longer period means the swell was generated by a stronger, more distant storm and will carry more energy into the reef.
Wind — next 48 hours
Hourly 10 m wind speed. Offshore here is roughly E–NE.
Cleanest window: Wed 8 PM at 0 kt. Arrows show where the wind is blowing: green is offshore or glassy, yellow cross-shore, red onshore.
Swell & wind direction
Where the energy is coming from versus the window Scripps Pier needs.
- Swell from
- WSW · 250°
- Wind from
- N · 0°
- Swell window
- WSW–WNW (shaded)
Water & air temperature
Water temperature from the buoy (NOAA 46254); air temperature from the weather model. Placed on the wetsuit scale.
Wear: Boardshorts / spring
How we rate the surf
The Surfing Tomorrow Break Model is our own proprietary method. It takes the swells measured at the nearest buoy, scales each one by its period (longer swell grows more as it reaches shallow water) and by how well it lines up with Scripps Pier's swell window, then combines them into a wave size at the break. Wave size sets the possible range; the wind decides where in that range it lands. Offshore or glassy wind puts it at the top, cross-shore or light onshore at the bottom, strong onshore drops it one level, and rain or storms drop it one more.
| Wave size at the break | Possible rating |
|---|---|
| Under 1 ft | Poor |
| 1–2 ft | Poor to Fair |
| 2–4 ft | Fair to Good |
| 4–5 ft | Good to Excellent |
| 5–8 ft | Excellent to Epic |
| 8 ft + | Excellent to Epic |
Estimates, not measurements — not yet checked against logged sessions.
Recent from the lineup — YouTube
The newest YouTube videos and Shorts matching “Scripps Pier” and its city. Each is credited to its creator and plays from YouTube.
Through the year — monthly guide & videos
What Scripps Pier is like through the year. Pick a month for a quick guide built from recent years of weather and wave records, plus YouTube videos of Scripps Pier in that month.
September at Scripps Pier
In September, waves at Scripps Pier typically peak around 3.1 ft each day, with swell mostly from the SW at about 11 seconds, the water averages 70°F (trunks or a springsuit), air runs 64–77°F, and it rains on about 3 days.
Typical wave peak
3.1 ft
SW swell · 11s
Water
70°F
trunks or a springsuit
Air
77°F
lows 64°F
Rainy days
3
per month
Averages for 2023–2025. Waves and water temperature: Open-Meteo marine model (offshore, not measured at the break). Air and rain: Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, Copernicus/ECMWF). Treat these as a general guide, not a forecast.
Saved YouTube picks for Scripps Pier in September, filtered to real surf footage. The date shown is when each video was posted.
Scripps Pier Surfing September 1 - San Diego CA
ApTv · Posted Sep 3, 2022
Surfer gets dropped in on at Scripps Pier
ApTv · Posted Sep 6, 2022
Scripps Pier Surfing August 31 - San Diego CA
ApTv · Posted Sep 1, 2022
Surfing out at Scripps Pier La Jolla Shores during a Beautiful Sunset
SoCal Surf Drone · Posted Jan 5, 2022
Scripps Pier Surfing - Summer 2022
ApTv · Posted Aug 12, 2022
The break
Sandbars build up around the pier and can produce fun, hollow peaks, especially on west and northwest swells.
The pier is a working research facility — stay clear of the pilings and any posted restricted areas.
The NOAA tide gauge used for every La Jolla spot on this site is on this pier.
Conditions change quickly with the sandbars, so check it before committing to a session.
Hazards & etiquette
- Pier pilings — don't surf through or right next to them.
- Rip currents often run along the pier.
- Crowded on good days with a strong local crew.
Getting there
- Parking
- Limited paid and street parking near the Scripps campus, or walk north from Kellogg Park.
- Entry
- Walk along the sand from La Jolla Shores.
- Facilities
- Nearest restrooms and showers are at Kellogg Park, La Jolla Shores.
- Nearest buoy
- NDBC 46254 — Scripps Nearshore (CDIP 201), the closest wave buoy, about 0.5 mi west of the pier.
Seasonal patterns
Spring (Mar–May)
Mixed swell and cool water around 60–64°F.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Smaller surf, warm water often 66–72°F, busy beach.
Fall (Sep–Nov)
First northwest swells plus warm water — often a good window.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Most consistent size from northwest swells. Water around 58–62°F.
Water quality & pollution
Official bacteria tests, warnings and closures from California BeachWatch (State Water Board, reported by San Diego County), for sampling stations within 1.5 miles. Fetched Sep 23, 3:16 PM.
No active warnings or closures at nearby stations.
| Station | Sampled | Test | Result | State limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacks BeachFM-090 · 0.8 mi away | 2026-09-22 | Enterococcus | 195 Copies/100ml | 1,413 · under |
| Ave De La PlayaFM-080 · 0.9 mi away | 2026-09-22 | Enterococcus | 616 Copies/100ml | 1,413 · under |
| La Jolla CoveFM-070 · 1.5 mi away | 2026-09-22 | Enterococcus | 1,357 Copies/100ml | 1,413 · under |
| 250 feet sout of Scripps PierSI-020 · 0.2 mi away | 2026-09-02 | Enterococcus | 2 CFU/100ml | 104 · under |
| 500 feet north of Scripps PierSI-030 · 0.2 mi away | 2026-09-02 | Enterococcus | 2 CFU/100ml | 104 · under |
| 250 feet sout of Scripps PierSI-020 · 0.2 mi away | 2026-09-02 | Fecal Coliforms | 2 CFU/100ml | 400 · under |
| 500 feet north of Scripps PierSI-030 · 0.2 mi away | 2026-09-02 | Fecal Coliforms | 10 CFU/100ml | 400 · under |
| 250 feet sout of Scripps PierSI-020 · 0.2 mi away | 2026-09-02 | Total Coliforms | 2 CFU/100ml | 10,000 · under |
Air quality (US AQI)
—
Unavailable
PM2.5 · Ozone
— · —
µg/m³
Air quality is a forecast model estimate (Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a monitor reading.
Sampled by the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health. Avoid the water for 72 hours after measurable rain.
Nearby spots
Where this data comes from
Every number on this page is pulled fresh from public sources each time the page loads. Nothing is invented. But not everything is a live measurement at the break — here's exactly what each item is.
| Item | Type | Source | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swell height, period, direction | Measured nearshore | NOAA NDBC buoy 46254 (Scripps Nearshore (CDIP 201)). NOAA posts new readings about every 30–60 min. | Reading taken Sep 23, 2:26 PM |
| Water temperature | Measured nearshore | NOAA NDBC buoy 46254. Water at the break can differ slightly. | Reading taken Sep 23, 2:26 PM |
| Tide | Official prediction | NOAA CO-OPS station 9410230 (La Jolla (Scripps Pier)). Calculated tide tables, not live water level. | Fetched Sep 23, 3:16 PM |
| 7-day swell, 48-hour swell | Forecast model | GFS-Wave / ECMWF marine models via Open-Meteo, for the open ocean off this spot. | Fetched Sep 23, 3:16 PM |
| Wind now, 48-hour wind, air temperature | Forecast model | Open-Meteo weather model. Local sea breezes can differ from the model. | Fetched Sep 23, 3:16 PM |
| Conditions rating | Surfing Tomorrow Break Model | Our proprietary rating: estimated wave size sets the range, current wind and rain/storm weather set the level (Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent, Epic). | Calculated Sep 23, 3:16 PM |
| Est. surf at the break | Surfing Tomorrow Break Model | Our proprietary estimate: buoy groundswell and wind swell scaled by period and swell-window alignment for this break. | From reading at Sep 23, 2:26 PM |
| Water bacteria, warnings, closures | Official test results | California BeachWatch (State Water Resources Control Board), reported by San Diego County DEHQ. Sampled weekly at most stations; results post a day or more after sampling. | Fetched Sep 23, 3:16 PM |
| Air quality | Forecast model | Copernicus CAMS air-quality model via Open-Meteo. Not a ground monitor. | Unavailable |
| Break guide, hazards, seasons | Written guide | General local knowledge. Seasonal water temperatures are typical ranges, not live readings. | Reviewed by our team |
Important: the buoy sits just off Scripps Pier in about 20 m of water, not at Scripps Pier itself. Waves at the break can be bigger or smaller than the buoy reading depending on swell angle, the sea floor and nearby headlands. Always check the water yourself and know your limits.