San Diego County, California
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 7mph from the SW and poor conditions.
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 7mph from the SW and poor conditions.
Best window·Sunday 2PM–5PM·5-6ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at San Clemente State Beach, San Diego County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 11s with gentle SSW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light winds out of the ENE.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. 2-3ft waves to start the day on S swell at 13s.
Sun, Sep 6: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on S swell at 14s with gentle NW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on S swell at 13s and light WNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when San Clemente State Beach turns Good.
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 1-2ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is SSW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. 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 1-2ft, produced by a 2ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SSW 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 San Clemente State Beach is Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 5ft waves, a 13.6s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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).
