San Diego County, California
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·4ft·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.
Wed, Jun 24: 5–7ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-6ft on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 4–6ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-7ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 6mph and poor - fair by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-5ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-5ft waves on W swell at 6s with 11mph from the SE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–5ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-5ft and poor - fair with moderate S wind around 8mph.
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 4-6ft with a 16.85s swell period. Wind is WNW at 7mph 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 4-6ft, produced by a 1.8ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.8ft SSW secondary swell at 14s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 14.4s 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
