Scripps Pier/La Jolla Shores
Hourly
Confidence
Compare
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Saturday 08
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Thursday 13
Tap a forecast cell to explore conditions on the map.
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Wind: GFS (20251108 12z)
Waves: GFS WAVE (20251108 12z)

Scripps Pier/La Jolla Shores surf guide

Scripps Pier, located at La Jolla Shores, is one of the most popular surf spots in southern San Diego. The beach has wide sandy stretches and typically peaks that break on both sides of the pier. The south side usually has better waves, but when conditions are right, the area in front of the parking lots to the south can be excellent. It's easily accessible via La Jolla Shores Drive, making it convenient for surfers heading to the water.

When it comes to surfing, the spot generally handles swell sizes from about 3 to 6 feet (1 to 1.8 meters). You'll find that the waves break over sand, with both left and right wave options available. Popular swell directions include Northwest and South, with the best waves often showing up with W or NW swells. The waves are typically beginner-friendly, making it a great place to learn, but intermediate surfers can get their fill too. It's best to surf during mid-tide for optimal conditions, with winds coming from the Southeast. Expect this spot to pick up swell and not close out easily, even when smaller than surrounding breaks like Black’s.

Keep in mind that Scripps Pier can get really crowded, especially during summer. The local vibe is generally mellow, which makes it a friendly place for surfers of all levels. It's a good spot throughout the year, but November through February is when it really shines. Suitable board types range from shortboards to longboards, fish, funboards, and even bodyboards. So, grab your gear and enjoy the waves!

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Scripps Pier/La Jolla Shores

Blacks Beach
California, United States
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Scripps Pier/La Jolla Shores
California, United States
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
La Jolla Cove
California, United States
Point break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Horseshoe
California, United States
Reef break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Little Point
Unknown Region, Unknown Country
Point break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Confidence

Confidence tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

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

We calculate the wind confidence by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. For wave certainty we compare height, period and direction, also on multiple models. 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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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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