Blacks Beach
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Hourly Forecast
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
Wednesday 27
Thursday 28
Friday 29
Saturday 30
Sunday 31
Monday 01
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Blacks Beach surf guide

Blacks Beach is a well-known surf spot in San Diego, often enjoying a reputation as one of the best beachbreaks in the county. This location is famously tricky to access due to its steep and rocky path down the bluffs. The trail can deter many, which means you'll need to commit some time to get there. It’s a nudist beach too, so be aware if that’s not your thing. The beach is located at the south end of Blackgold Road, just off La Jolla Farms Road, and is popular among surfers looking for challenging waves.

The surf here is pretty good, with the ability to handle swells from 2 feet (about 0.6 meters) to as big as 15 feet (around 4.6 meters). The best conditions generally come from the west, with some action from the south and northwest. Blacks Beach features a mix of wave types, giving you lefts and rights to ride, and it usually favors lower to mid tides. The average crowd can be heavy, and the local vibe leans competitive, especially when the waves are pumping. Do note that thicker swells typically work better during the autumn and winter seasons, but you can find rideable waves throughout the year if you’re willing to put in the effort.

While the waves can be rewarding, they can also be challenging. Getting caught inside during bigger swells can lead to some long hold-downs, so make sure you're an experienced surfer if you're hitting it when it's firing. Expect strong rip currents and the need for solid paddling skills, particularly when the surf is up. For those looking for varying wave experiences, there are three main peaks: South Peak, which throws down a heavy left; Middle Peak, offering a two-way street with better lefts; and North Peak, known for its quick right-hand barrels. Just remember to watch out for the nudist line if you prefer to keep your gear on!

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Blacks Beach

South Del Mar
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Reef break
Wed 27
Thu 28
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Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
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Torrey Pines State Beach
California, United States
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Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
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Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Blacks Beach
California, United States
Beach break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Scripps Pier/La Jolla Shores
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Beach break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
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California, United States
Point break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Horseshoe
California, United States
Reef break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Little Point
Unknown Region, Unknown Country
Point break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Simmons Reef
California, United States
Reef break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Windansea Beach
California, United States
Reef break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Big Rock
California, United States
Reef break
Wed 27
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

🔮 Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

💨 Wind section

The first row on the table (with the 💨 icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

🌊 Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm choices the "dominant wave". This is normally the first swell partition, but with heavy local storms it displays the wind waves. If that's the case, we display the numbers in italic and in gray.

🌒 Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

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Wind certainty

Wind certainty tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High certainty: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium certainty: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low certainty: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate this by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.

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