Church Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.38° N 117.58° W

Church Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Church sea temperature is
21.6°C
1.9° 

Church surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Church surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 402 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with SW 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Church in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sat 12th Sep)2ft (0.6m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 17th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 5AM (Thu 17th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Church over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Church over the next couple weeks. It’s a slow start, but there’s a little hope if you’re patient.

Right now, the water’s sitting at about 71°, a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Nice. But the surf? It’s a grind. The first few days are weak. Saturday the 12th brings 2ft of SW swell with a 14-second period, but the cross-on wind is spoiling it. Combined energy is low at 209. Barely worth the walk.

Sunday the 13th is even smaller, 2ft of SW swell and a cross-on breeze making it choppy. Energy around 203. Monday the 14th shows a little more – 3ft of W swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds and it’s a moderate cross-on. Not clean.

Through the week, the energy builds into the 400s and 500s, but the waves stay small, mostly 2ft to 3ft. The period improves to the mid and upper teens, so you get that groundswell push, but the wind stays cross-on. That longer period SW swell will tend to run straight at a beach break, so Church’s point setup might save it a little.

The real highlight? Look at Monday the 21st of September. Afternoon brings 3ft of SW swell with a 17-second period and combined energy hitting 622. The wind is light and onshore from the SW, which here means straight on, no cross. That could be glassy. It’s not big, but it’s the most energy of the whole run. If you’re advanced and you like working a long-period swell on a point, that’s your session.

Otherwise, the whole 16-day run is full of marginal surf. Nothing over 3ft, and the wind never turns clean offshore. The cross-on breeze keeps most days bumpy. For beginners, the size is fine, but the conditions won’t be friendly.

Bottom line: wait for Monday the 21st afternoon. That’s the best shot. The rest is mostly a gamble.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
2
1
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.4
SW
19
1
W
10
1
W
8
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.4
SSW
20
0.4
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
17
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.6
SW
19
0.6
SW
19
0.6
SW
19
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
164
160
89
131
188
116
150
190
161
127
114
386
347
291
196
246
242
303
303
234
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
5
SSE
15
S
10
SW
10
SSE
20
S
15
S
10
SSE
10
S
10
SW
5
SSE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NW
15
W
15
WNW
10
WNW
10
W
15
WNW
0
SSW
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
10:31PM1.55m
10:44AM1.70m
11:13PM1.36m
11:11AM1.66m
11:59PM1.17m
11:38AM1.58m
00:58AM0.99m
12:07PM1.48m
2:45AM0.87m
12:46PM1.38m
2:20PM1.29m
Low Tide
4:33PM0.14m
4:33AM0.24m
5:15PM0.16m
4:56AM0.41m
5:59PM0.22m
5:16AM0.57m
6:51PM0.30m
5:28AM0.72m
8:00PM0.38m
5:12AM0.84m
9:44PM0.41m
11:29PM0.35m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:00
6:59
6:58
6:57
6:54
6:53
6:52
 mm
Temp °C
24
21
24
24
22
23
23
21
22
22
20
22
23
20
23
24
22
25
25
23
Feels °C
26
24
24
24
24
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
23
21
23
24
23
25
24
25
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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