71°
Mostly Sunny
2%
80
San Diego County, CA · Pacific Ocean
La Jolla Cove
1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
A small, dramatic cove with the clearest water in San Diego (part of the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve and La Jolla Underwater Park). California sea lions haul out at the Cove itself and at Boomer Beach; harbor seals colony is at the adjacent Children's Pool. Snorkeling and free-diving are world-class. Tiny sand beach; mostly a scenic and tide-pooling stop.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 75°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.
Weather
- 71°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 75°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 12 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — high surf advisory issued july 18 at 4:40am pdt until july 21 at 11:00pm pdt by nws san diego ca
60 /100
good
44 Swim
72 Sunbathe
83 Walk
79 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.5 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
High Surf High Surf Advisory
High Surf Advisory issued July 18 at 4:40AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet with sets up to 8 feet at south or southwest facing beaches. * WHERE...San Diego County Coastal Areas and Orange County Coastal Areas. * WHEN...From 5 PM Sunday to 11 PM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...South swell 4 to 5 feet coming from 180 to 200 degrees with a period of 13 seconds will generate high surf, primarily for south-facing beaches. Tides will generally be at or below 5.5 feet, but localized areas of beach erosion and minor tidal overflow may occur when combining with the high surf. Swell and surf will decrease by Wednesday.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
71°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind
5 to 10 mph
SW
Rain
2%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
12 Extreme
High 10 AM–04 PM · burn in ~17m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
71°F
Partly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
75°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
18s · WSW swell
Water Quality
Above threshold
451 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ740)
The SGX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- CAZ552 Orange County Coastal Areas n/a
- CAZ043 San Diego County Coastal Areas n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
8:53 AM
Sunset
10:56 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:02 AM | High | 5.5 ft |
| 6:51 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 1:29 PM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 7:12 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:54 AM | High | 4.6 ft |
| 7:27 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 2:15 PM | High | 4.8 ft |
| 8:29 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:57 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 8:03 AM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| 3:04 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 10:03 PM | Low | 1.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:30 AM | High | 3.1 ft |
| 8:41 AM | Low | 2.0 ft |
| 3:57 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 11:38 PM | Low | 1.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:51 AM | High | 2.8 ft |
| 9:29 AM | Low | 2.5 ft |
| 4:53 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:50 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 7:51 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 10:42 AM | Low | 2.9 ft |
| 5:47 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:40 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 8:46 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 12:00 PM | Low | 3.0 ft |
| 6:35 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 9410230, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
71°
Partly Sunny
2%
80
73°
Partly Sunny
1%
83
73°
Mostly Sunny
0%
83
72°
Partly Sunny
2%
78
72°
Partly Sunny
5%
80
72°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
15%
78
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 12 — very high
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 75°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Metered street parking on Coast Blvd — competitive on weekends. Park up the hill in the Village and walk down.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited at the cove year-round.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at La Jolla Cove today?
La Jolla Cove shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is La Jolla Cove dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited at the cove year-round.
Is there an entry fee at La Jolla Cove?
Entry to La Jolla Cove is free.
Are there lifeguards at La Jolla Cove?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol La Jolla Cove during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at La Jolla Cove?
Amenities at La Jolla Cove include lifeguards, restrooms, tide pools, sea lion viewing, restaurants in Village.
When is the water warmest at La Jolla Cove?
The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.
Where is La Jolla Cove located?
La Jolla Cove is in San Diego County, CA, at 1100 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS