San Clemente State Park Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at San Clemente State Park.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The surf starts off small and kind of average, but there’s a definite pulse of energy that rolls in towards the end of the first week and into the start of August. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

The first decent chance comes Saturday morning, the 25th of July. We’re looking at a clean 3ft swell from the SSW, with a very long period of 21 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is light and blowing onshore, so it’ll be glassy. The combined energy is moderate at 911, but the ride quality is a bit questionable. It’s a beginner-friendly break, so it’s fine for a longboard or a foamy, but don’t expect perfection.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are similar. The swell bumps up to 4ft to 4ft, still from the SSW, with a long period of 18 to 19 seconds. The wind stays light and mostly onshore, keeping things clean. The combined energy pushes into the moderate range, hitting 1146 on Monday morning. Days are consistent, but the forecast is still calling it marginal. Crowds are likely here, so get there early.

Tuesday the 28th holds onto 4ft from the SSW, but the wind switches to a gentle cross-onshore, making it a little choppy. The period drops to 17 seconds, but the energy is similar. It’s still surfable, but not as clean as the weekend.

The standout of the whole window looks like Friday the 31st of July. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the S, period of 14 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1505 – that’s a strong pulse. The morning looks clean with light WSW wind, but the afternoon gets a bit cross-onshore. This is the biggest swell of the run, and for a beginner spot, 6ft is pushing it – it’ll be a bit much for newbies, but for the experienced crew, there’ll be some fun ones. The swell direction is SSW, which is bang on the optimum for this break.

After that, it fades fast. Saturday the 1st of August drops to 6ft, and by Sunday the 2nd, it’s down to 3ft and the energy crashes to 231. From Sunday the 2nd through to the 9th of August, it’s a proper dry spell. The swell stays tiny, mostly under 3ft, with very weak energy, often under 200. The wind is mostly light and onshore, but there’s just nothing to ride. It’s a long stretch of flatness – about a week of poor conditions.

If you’re looking for the best wave, hit Friday the 31st of July for the biggest, most energised swell. The early morning will be the cleanest. Just be prepared for the drop-off after that.

Rusty.

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