San Diego County, California
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 6s and light winds out of the SSE.
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 6s and light winds out of the SSE.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·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. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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. Expect 2-3ft waves early on S swell at 13s. Wind increases to 8mph from the SW.
Sun, Sep 6: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Good. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on S swell at 14s with light winds out of the NW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on S swell at 13s and gentle NW breeze. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
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 5.6s swell period. Wind is S 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 2.1ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, 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 10 AM to 1 PM with 5ft waves, a 14s 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).
