Florida - West Coast
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 11mph ESE winds.
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 11mph ESE winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Clearwater for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Clearwater, Florida - West Coast. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 11mph ESE winds.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 10mph SE winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 7mph from the SSE. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 7mph from the WSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with moderate WSW wind around 8mph.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Clearwater turns Good.
Check Clearwater from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Clearwater Beach is a gentle Gulf Coast beach break that only produces rideable waves during cold fronts and tropical systems that push W or SW swell into the Gulf. Waves are typically small and short-lived compared to Atlantic-facing beaches. When conditions align, the sandy bottom creates fun, forgiving peaks ideal for longboarding and learning.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Clearwater is 0-1ft with a 2.7s swell period. Wind is SE at 8mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Clearwater is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.6ft NNE wind swell 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Clearwater is Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 1ft waves, a 2.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Clearwater works best with a W swell and E 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 Clearwater. 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.
Clearwater is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Clearwater Beach is a gentle Gulf Coast beach break that only produces rideable waves during cold fronts and tropical systems that push W or SW swell into the Gulf. Waves are typically small and short-lived compared to Atlantic-facing beaches. When conditions align, the sandy bottom creates fun, forgiving peaks ideal for longboarding and learning.
The prime season at Clearwater is winter, 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 Clearwater include inconsistent surf, swimmers and beach traffic, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Clearwater 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
