73°
Sunny
2%
83
San Diego County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Pacific Beach
4500 Ocean Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
The north end of the Mission/Pacific boardwalk continuous stretch — Crystal Pier at the heart, surf scene at the south end (PB Point), college-bar scene on Garnet Avenue inland. Wider, slightly quieter than Mission, and the surf is better.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 75°F water · 73°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 73. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.
Weather
- 73°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 75°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 11 (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
64 /100
good
48 Swim
76 Sunbathe
85 Walk
37 Fish
80 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 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
73°F
Sunny
Wind
5 to 10 mph
W
Rain
2%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
11 Extreme
High 10 AM–03 PM · burn in ~18m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
73°F
Partly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
75°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
18s · WSW swell
Water Quality
Clean
140 cfu/100mL · Fecal Coliform
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12:10 AM | High | 5.8 ft |
| 6:55 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 1:28 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 7:13 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:01 AM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 7:31 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 2:13 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 8:24 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:01 AM | High | 4.1 ft |
| 8:06 AM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| 3:02 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 9:54 PM | Low | 1.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:23 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 8:44 AM | Low | 2.0 ft |
| 3:57 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 11:34 PM | Low | 1.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:25 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 9:35 AM | Low | 2.5 ft |
| 4:55 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:49 AM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| 7:36 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 10:50 AM | Low | 2.9 ft |
| 5:50 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:41 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 8:38 AM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 12:02 PM | Low | 3.0 ft |
| 6:40 PM | High | 5.6 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 9410170, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
73°
Partly Sunny
2%
83
73°
Mostly Sunny
1%
83
74°
Mostly Sunny
0%
84
73°
Mostly Sunny
2%
83
73°
Mostly Sunny
5%
82
73°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
15%
79
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 75°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
1:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Major
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Minor
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Free off-boardwalk lots; metered/paid lots near the pier.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited 9 AM – 6 PM Apr 1 – Oct 31, and 9 AM – 4 PM Nov 1 – Mar 31. Leashed boardwalk access.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
4500 Ocean Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Pacific Beach today?
Pacific Beach 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 Pacific Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited 9 AM – 6 PM Apr 1 – Oct 31, and 9 AM – 4 PM Nov 1 – Mar 31. Leashed boardwalk access.
Is there an entry fee at Pacific Beach?
Entry to Pacific Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Pacific Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Pacific Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Pacific Beach?
Amenities at Pacific Beach include lifeguards, pier, boardwalk, restaurants, bars, restrooms, bike rentals.
When is the water warmest at Pacific Beach?
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 Pacific Beach located?
Pacific Beach is in San Diego County, CA, at 4500 Ocean Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS