K-38

K-38 is an SSW-facing reef break in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. It picks up swell from SSE to SSW and SSW to WNW, and land, islands, reefs or shallow banks block about 43% of the directions it faces. Offshore wind here blows from the NNE: light winds or NNE breezes usually mean the cleanest surf, while SSW onshores chop it up.

Rare slot: the Santa Barbara Channel lets in swell from 302.8° (WNW) and nothing either side. It only lines up when a storm sits in that exact direction, more than 376 km out. How slot swells work

Break

Reef

Faces

SSW (209°)

Best swell

WSW to NW (250°–310°), 11 s or longer

Best wind

NNW to ENE offshore, or glassy

Best surf height

3–8 ft at the beach

Swell window

SSE to SSW (163° to 198°); SSW to WNW (201.5° to 295.5°)

Rare slot

Santa Barbara Channel, 302.8° WNW

Offshore wind

NNE

Tide

Model estimate

Wave buoy

Point Loma South, CA (191) · 50 km away

Cams

None yet