Surf Forecasts:
Church surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SSW swell with 1,117 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with S 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Church in the next 16 days are 1.8m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Church over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles. For this stretch, the only place with any real hope is Church, and it’s a tale of constant cross-onshore wind. We’re looking at a lot of small, messy surf, but there are a couple of moments where it all comes together.
Right from the start, Thursday the 27th morning, we’ve got a knee-to-waist high 4ft S swell with a decent 12-second period, but the breeze is coming across from the SSW. The energy is moderate (574), but the surf is marginal. The water is a balmy 73°, much warmer than usual for this time of year. That afternoon, it’s a write-off.
The whole first week is a grind. Through Friday the 28th and into the weekend, we’ve got SSW swells around 2ft to 4ft, with the energy building into the moderate range (up to 809 on Saturday), but that cross-onshore wind never lets up, making everything choppy and lumpy. This continues right through to the 1st of September.
There’s a shift on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning session goes dead calm, with a 4ft SSW swell (738 energy) and light air. It’s still a marginal call, but with the wind off the water, this is the best chance for a clean ride in that first week. Thursday the 3rd is the big one. The swell jumps to 6ft from the SW in the afternoon, with a 12-second period and the combined energy hitting a strong 1308. There will be a light cross-onshore breeze, so it won’t be perfect, but that’s the biggest and most powerful pulse of the entire 16-day outlook. Because it’s over 5ft, it’s well into expert territory.
That energy drops through Friday and the weekend. Saturday the 5th afternoon has a cleaner look with a light offshore grooming a 4ft SSW swell (775 energy), but it’s short-lived.
In the second week, look to Monday the 7th of September afternoon. A moderate offshore NE breeze of 15 mph cleans up a small 3ft SSW swell. The call is for good conditions, and even though it’s small, that offshore wind should make it the cleanest, most user-friendly wave of the whole run. After that, the windows slam shut with fresh onshores and lumpy conditions through to the 11th, leaving only tiny, cross-onshore leftover waves.
Best bets: Wednesday morning the 2nd of September for a shot at clean waist-high waves in dead calm conditions, and Thursday afternoon the 3rd of September for the biggest, most powerful swell – one for the experienced crew only.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 333 | 231 | 270 | 351 | 325 | 932 | 692 | 733 | 706 | 537 | 400 | 321 | 499 | 420 | 264 | 302 | 307 | 444 | 503 | 343 | 1011 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:38AM1.37m | 9:09PM1.77m | 10:01AM1.45m | 9:43PM1.71m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:09PM0.45m | 3:55AM-0.04m | 3:45PM0.38m | 4:19AM0.02m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 17 | S 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 333 | 231 | 154 | 351 | 73 | 932 | 692 | 733 | 706 | 537 | 400 | 85 | 499 | 420 | 264 | 302 | 307 | 444 | 503 | 343 | 1011 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SW 14 | W 10 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 13 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | W 4 |
| kJ | 169 | 132 | 270 | 79 | 147 | 73 | 61 | 48 | 110 | 114 | 60 | 321 | 42 | 26 | 84 | 4 | 80 | 150 | 216 | 322 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 14 | W 11 | SSW 19 | S 8 | SSW 8 | WNW 9 | S 8 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | W 5 | SW 18 | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | SSW 13 | S 15 |
| kJ | 72 | 81 | 116 | 85 | 325 | 34 | 21 | 28 | 10 | 35 | 107 | 222 | 208 | 131 | 9 | 50 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 156 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | WNW 10 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 63 | 63 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 2 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 19 | 85 | 14 |
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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