San Clemente State Park Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on what’s in store for San Clemente State Park over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I’m looking at this forecast and feeling a bit flat. The first real chance to get wet doesn’t roll in until the morning of Friday, August 7th, and even then it’s a struggle. We’ve got a long, drawn-out period of small, weak swell that’s just not bringing any grunt. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet comes Friday morning, August 7th. We’re looking at a 2 ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s a groundswell, but the energy is only moderate (449). The wind is light and onshore, so it’s bumpy. Don’t expect much – the wave comment says “poor surf conditions” and that’s about right. The rest of the weekend and into the next week is a real grind. Saturday the 8th sees a 3 ft SSW swell, but the wind swings cross-onshore, making it choppy. Sunday to Tuesday (9th-11th) the swell stays tiny, around 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is mostly onshore, keeping things messy. The wave energy stays weak to moderate. Honestly, it’s a tough watch.

We’ve got a bit of a gap here with no real recommendations. The surf stays pretty marginal right through until the middle of the month. The energy from the 14th of August onwards starts to pick up a little, with the 15th of August showing a 4 ft SSW swell (16 seconds) and the combined energy hitting 723 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-onshore, so there *might* be a few fun ones if you’re really keen on a lukewarm wave. But it’s still listed as “marginal surf forecast.”

The best bet in this whole 16-day window is looking like the morning of Friday, August 21st. We’ve got a 3 ft SSW swell with a period of 16 seconds, and the wind is finally light and onshore. The energy is moderate (548), and while it’s not pumping, it’s the cleanest looking window we’ve got. The score is the highest of the whole run, so that’s the one to pencil in. It’s a beginner-friendly break, and the crowds are *sometimes* an issue, so getting there early on a Friday morning might pay off. The swell direction from the SSW is bang on for this spot’s optimum direction from the SW, so it’s a good match.

Overall, it’s a quiet period. For the first week, you’re really just hoping for a miracle. The second week has a little more potential, but it’s not a standout. Stay patient, and keep your eyes on the 21st of August.

Rusty.

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