Today in San Luis Obispo County beaches, expect moderate surf conditions with northwest facing beaches seeing average wave sizes of 5 to 8 feet and south facing beaches around 3 to 5 feet. Water temperatures hover between 51 to 53 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal for a full wetsuit. Rip current risk is moderate, so stay cautious near breaks like Avila or Pismo [web:1].
Nearby NOAA buoy 46011 reports significant wave height at 5.2 feet. Primary swell measures 2.6 feet from the south with a 14.8 second period, while northwest wind waves add 4.6 feet at 5.9 seconds. Overall wave steepness is average, promising clean lines from the long-period southern swell [web:12].
High tide peaks around midday near 3.1 feet, with lows at -0.2 feet early morning and 2.9 feet evening at Port San Luis. These tides will influence peak surf windows mid-morning to afternoon [web:14].
Weather stays sunny with highs in the mid-70s at beaches, northeast winds 15-25 mph keeping conditions offshore and groomed [web:5].
Raw data from NOAA, curated by surforecast pacificwaverider