Scripps Pier surf forecast

Scripps Pier: 2 to 6 feet Sunday, knee to head high; today 2 to 4; Tuesday 2 to 3. In the water there: 2.4 ft at 6 seconds from the WNW (286°) and 0.6 ft at 14 seconds from the WNW (300°). The tide: high 4.2 ft at 4:46 AM, then low 2.7 ft at 9:49 AM. Scripps Pier, by the institution; the beach north of the pier picks up more than La Jolla Shores.

• Sunday: 2 to 6 ft, knee to head high.
• Monday: 2 to 4 ft, knee to waist high; dawn wind offshore from the E, 5 mph.
• Tuesday: 2 to 3 ft, knee high; dawn wind offshore from the NE, 5 mph.
• A sand break facing W.

How it takes a swell

Scripps sits between La Jolla Shores and Black's, and it's best on a west or west-northwest groundswell, the swells winter brings. A south reads small, partly sheltered like La Jolla Shores. There are three peaks south of the pier: the main one straight out from the stairs, the north peak by the lifeguard tower, and rights off the pier's pilings. The pier holds the sand, so the bars change less than at an open beach. The north side of the pier can hold more lefts but watch out for surf classes. On a short-period wind swell none of the canyon's effects apply, and this stretch is a mellow beach break. Waist to head high; past that the bars by the pier give out. Combo swells deliver more peaks along those three bars, with the west doing the work.

Who it's for

Intermediates. Busier than La Jolla Shores on a good day.

Watch out for

The pilings. The pier belongs to the Scripps Institution; keep clear of it. Stingrays in the warm months.

Getting there

Metered parking on the campus, street parking (crimp tires to the curb) the La Jolla Shores lot, then walk north.

Also in South San Diego: La Jolla Shores · Avalanche · Ocean Beach Pier

Surf from CDIP's nearshore points, wind from NOAA's HRRR and the National Weather Service, tides from NOAA. About · Privacy