Swell Intel

Church Surf Forecast, Orange County, California

Orange County, California

Trestles1-2ftUpper Trestles1-2ftSan Onofre1-2ft
Church surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
11.5s
Wind
4mph
WSW / Gusts 5mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.1ft @ 12sS
Secondary
0.5ft @ 15sSSW
Tertiary
0.5ft @ 3sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with calm winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|2mph SSW
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 8mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s S|5-8mph NNW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Poor

Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle NNW breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm
4s W|5-7mph WNW
Sign up to unlockFree — no credit card
Sat

Forecast Charts

Church Surf Spot Guide

Break
Point
Bottom
Cobblestone
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
S
Best Wind
NE
Season
Summer

Church is the southernmost and most forgiving break in the Trestles complex, a cobblestone right-hand point break well-suited for longboarding and flow surfing. The slow, peeling waves and relatively mellow character make it the beginner-friendly entry point to the world-class Trestles surf zone. Located on the same cobblestone reef system formed by San Mateo Creek, it offers a mellower experience than the famous Lowers break to the north.

Cobblestone bottomLong walk inCrowds

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Church Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Church?
The current wave height at Church is 1-2ft with a 11.5s swell period. Wind is WSW at 4mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Church surf forecast?
Our Church forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends.
What is the breaking wave height at Church?
The current breaking wave height at Church is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.1ft S primary swell at 12s, a 0.5ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.5ft S tertiary swell at 3s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
When is the best time to surf Church?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Church is Thursday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 4ft waves, a 14.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.