San Diego County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on SSW swell at 13s with gentle S breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and poor - fair with 12mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 8s and moderate SE wind around 8mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 13s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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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 15.3s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph and conditions are rated Fair. 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 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 San Clemente State Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 12.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
