San Clemente State Park Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for San Clemente State Park.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you—this 16-day stretch is a tough one. There’s a long, dry run with barely a wave worth paddling for. The first real surf recommendation doesn’t pop up until Saturday, August 8th, and even then it’s only a “marginal” call. Before that, from Tuesday the 4th through Friday the 7th, it’s all poor surf conditions with tiny swell and onshore or cross-onshore wind. Nothing doing.

Saturday, August 8th – We finally see a little pulse. The morning brings a 3ft swell from the SSW with a period of 17 seconds, combined energy of 425 (moderate). That long period means it’s a groundswell, giving the waves some shape and energy, but at a beach break like this it can get a bit straight. Winds are light onshore from the SW, so it’ll be pretty clean for a beginner spot. The afternoon drops to 3ft and 16 seconds, still with onshore light breeze. It’s nothin’ to write home about—just a marginal window.

Sunday, August 9th – A touch more size in the morning: 3ft from the SSW, 15-second period, combined energy 443 (moderate). But the wind swings cross-onshore from the SSW at 9 mph, putting a bit of chop on the surface. It’s still marginal. The afternoon improves slightly with 3ft and onshore light breeze, but again, it’s only a marginal call.

Monday, August 10th – Back to poor surf. The morning has 3ft from the SSW, 14 seconds, cross-onshore light breeze. The afternoon drops to 2ft but with a 20-second period—that’s a very long period groundswell, but it’s too small to do much, and the wind is cross-onshore. Not worth the drive.

Tuesday, August 11th through Friday, August 14th – A whole stretch of poor surf. Swell hovers around 2ft to 2ft, periods mostly 13 to 19 seconds, but winds are either onshore or cross-onshore, keeping things messy. Combined energy varies from 219 to 452 (weak to moderate), but the wave comment is consistently “poor surf conditions.” No go.

Saturday, August 15th – This is the best we’ve got. Morning sees 3ft from the SSW at 16 seconds, combined energy 571 (moderate). The wind is onshore light from the SW, so it’ll be glassy clean—that’s a real positive. The afternoon bumps up to 4ft from the SW, 16 seconds, combined energy 659 (moderate), with a light cross-onshore breeze. It’s still marginal, but for this forecast, it’s the standout. If you’re a beginner, 3ft to 4ft is fine, but it’s not a big day. The optimal swell direction for this spot is SW, and the afternoon comes in from the SW, so that’s a good match. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have some company but not a circus.

Sunday, August 16th onward – It fades again. The 16th morning has 3ft from the SSW, 16 seconds, onshore light breeze, but then it’s back to poor surf through the rest of the window. The 18th and 19th offer marginal mornings but with tiny swell (1ft to 2ft) and onshore or cross-onshore winds.

Water temperature at San Clemente State Park is about average for this time of year—no anomaly to speak of, so the water will feel normal for August.

Overall, the only real chance to get wet is Saturday, August 15th, with a morning glassy session on a 3ft SSW groundswell, or a slightly bigger afternoon. Everything else is a write-off. Keep an eye on the forecast, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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