Swell Intel

San Clemente Pier Surf Forecast, Orange County, California

Orange County, California

T Street (Trafalgar Street)1-2ft204s1-2ftSan Clemente State Beach1-2ft
San Clemente Pier surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
11.05s
Wind
3mph
W / Gusts 4mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.9ft @ 3sS
Secondary
0.8ft @ 12sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 10sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph SW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s S|4-8mph NNW
Thu, Apr 23-4ft
Fair

Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on W swell at 4s — light NNW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s SW|5-7mph WNW
Sign up to unlockFree — no credit card
Sat

Forecast Charts

San Clemente Pier Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
S
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

San Clemente Pier is a classic Southern California beach break that works best during fall and winter swells, offering forgiving waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom and pier structure create a fun, mellow environment where waves peel predictably along the beach, with the pier serving as a natural landmark for paddling out. The exposure to southerly swells combined with northwest offshore winds makes this a reliable spot when conditions align, attracting a steady mix of locals and visitors throughout the year.

Pier pilingsCrowds during peak seasonRip currents near pier structure

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

San Clemente Pier Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for San Clemente Pier?
The current wave height at San Clemente Pier is 1-2ft with a 11.05s swell period. Wind is W at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the San Clemente Pier surf forecast?
Our San Clemente Pier 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 San Clemente Pier?
The current breaking wave height at San Clemente Pier is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.9ft S primary swell at 3s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 San Clemente Pier?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf San Clemente Pier is Thursday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 6ft waves, a 14.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.