Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Church, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 7mph SSW winds and fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with 12mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 8s with 8mph from the SE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
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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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Church is 1-2+ft with a 15.3s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Church is 1-2+ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 1ft S tertiary swell at 16s. 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Church is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 12.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Church works best with a S swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Church. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Church is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 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.
The prime season at Church is summer, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Church include cobblestone bottom, long walk in, crowds. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
