Orange County, California
waist to chest high
Best window·Tuesday 6AM–9AM·2-3+ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at San Clemente State Beach, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4+ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4+ft on S swell at 12s with barely a breath of wind. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, Sep 8: 2–3+ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3+ft on SSW swell at 11s with light WNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Wed, Sep 9: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 9s with light WNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Sep 10: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and moderate SE wind around 8mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 11: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 16s with 12mph from the SE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Regional Outlook
South Orange County
Tropical Storm Marie, well offshore of Baja, keeps a 10s south-southwest swell running early in the week. Tuesday is the pick — Fair in the morning before the cross-on wind arrives at midday. Cottons and Poche Beach rate Good Tuesday morning. From Thursday a 17s southwest groundswell takes over but cross-on wind holds the board at Poor, and Poche Beach and Cottons rate Good again Sunday morning.
Updated Sep 7, 5:47 PM
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Check San Clemente State Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
San Clemente State Beach is a sandy beach break just north of the Trestles complex, offering mellow waves for beginners and intermediates. The campground bluffs provide easy access to a stretch of coast that picks up S and SW swells well. A more relaxed alternative to the high-performance lineup at Trestles to the south.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at San Clemente State Beach is 3-4ft with a 11.3s swell period. Wind is NW at 5mph. Conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at San Clemente State Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 5.5ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 2.7ft WNW wind swell swell at 4s, a 0.7ft WSW tertiary swell at 9s. 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 San Clemente State Beach is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 10.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
San Clemente State Beach works best with a SW 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 San Clemente State Beach. 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.
San Clemente State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. San Clemente State Beach is a sandy beach break just north of the Trestles complex, offering mellow waves for beginners and intermediates. The campground bluffs provide easy access to a stretch of coast that picks up S and SW swells well. A more relaxed alternative to the high-performance lineup at Trestles to the south.
The prime season at San Clemente State Beach is fall, 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 San Clemente State Beach include shorebreak, occasional rip currents, rocky sections. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our San Clemente State Beach 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).
