Surf Forecasts:
Church surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, SSW swell with 788 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Church this week:
The surf forecast for Church over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Church in the next 16 days are 1.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Church over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down Church.
It’s a long look ahead, and honestly, most of it is a grind. The first week and a half is all marginal surf with junky onshore or cross-onshore wind. The water is 75°, which is a solid 7° warmer than usual – feels like a heated pool.
The one real standout, and the only time it gets serious, is around Tuesday, 8 September. The swell is a proper 12ft out of the SSW, and the combined energy hits 3123 – that’s a lot of water moving. This is expert-only territory, no question. The wind is a cross-onshore, so it won’t be glassy, but the power is there. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s decent groundswell, but at that size, Church is gonna be a handful. The morning of the 8th is a little smaller at 8ft with lighter wind, which is the better window for the skilled crew. Crowds are always a thing here, so expect a full lineup.
From 29 August all the way through the morning of 7 September, it’s mostly small stuff – 2ft to 4ft – with messy wind. Not worth the paddle. The 13th of September has a glimmer of hope on Sunday morning: glassy conditions with a light north breeze and a 3ft SSW swell. That’s a rare clean moment, but it’s small and those rain showers are a factor. The afternoon is blown out.
The call: if you’re an expert, lock in the morning of 8 September. For everyone else, maybe the glassy morning on the 13th is worth a look, but keep your expectations low.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 692 | 627 | 759 | 537 | 478 | 389 | 325 | 235 | 160 | 156 | 260 | 371 | 373 | 361 | 648 | 517 | 452 | 621 | 537 | 659 | 620 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 10:26AM1.52m | 10:18PM1.61m | 10:52AM1.58m | 10:57PM1.45m | 11:20AM1.62m | 11:42PM1.26m | 11:53AM1.63m | 00:41AM1.06m | 12:34PM1.62m | 2:20AM0.88m | 1:34PM1.57m | 5:35AM0.88m | 3:06PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:23PM0.33m | 4:43AM0.13m | 5:04PM0.29m | 5:06AM0.26m | 5:52PM0.28m | 5:29AM0.41m | 6:51PM0.30m | 5:52AM0.58m | 8:11PM0.32m | 6:14AM0.73m | 9:57PM0.27m | 6:35AM0.88m | 11:34PM0.14m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 692 | 627 | 759 | 537 | 478 | 99 | 325 | 235 | 160 | 149 | 260 | 371 | 373 | 361 | 648 | 517 | 412 | 621 | 403 | 659 | 620 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 5 | WNW 5 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | W 6 |
| kJ | 29 | 28 | 80 | 153 | 89 | 389 | 55 | 158 | 156 | 156 | 14 | 35 | 214 | 208 | 11 | 25 | 452 | 408 | 537 | 231 | 53 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SW 12 | S 8 | SSE 13 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 13 | SSW 19 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 9 | SSW 12 | S 15 | SSW 19 | S 13 | W 5 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 21 | 37 | 10 | 33 | 44 | 46 | 163 | 35 | 14 | 9 | 80 | 111 | 2 | 119 | 17 | 145 | 14 | 21 | 42 | 28 | 117 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | W 5 | W 3 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | W 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | 25 | — | — | 52 | 88 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 85 | 85 | 16 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 14 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 85 | 131 | 0 | 85 | 1361 | 23 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Church Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Church provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Church can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Church surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Church) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Church may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Church is 7 km (4 miles) from San Clemente. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Clemente. San Clemente has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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