Surf Forecasts:
Trestles (Lowers) surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 807 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Trestles (Lowers) this week:
The surf forecast for Trestles (Lowers) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Trestles (Lowers) in the next 16 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Trestles (Lowers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, we’ve got a bit of a slow grind ahead before things finally wake up. The surf is going to be small and a little bit on the messy side for the first stretch. We’re talking about a long gap with no real quality on the cards. It’s going to be a week and a half of marginal, waist-to-shoulder high slop at best, with a lot of days where you’ll be fighting a cross-onshore breeze and just not finding much push. The energy in the water is weak, with values mostly hanging around the 300 to 700 range, which tells you it’s not doing much.
The winds are mostly light, but they’re coming from the west and southwest, which puts a cross-on angle on Trestles. It’s not howling, but it’s enough to keep the surface a bit bumpy and rippled. The swell direction is all over the place, from SSW to SW, and the periods are in that mid-range, 13 to 18 seconds. It feels like there’s plenty of west in it, but not enough south to really light up the point.
Let’s break it down day by day. From Friday the 14th through to about the 25th, it’s just a waiting game. The swell height stays mostly under 3 feet, peaking at 4 feet on Saturday the 15th afternoon, but the quality is just not there. It’s a beach and reef set-up, and it’s got the exposure, but the winds are just enough to keep it from getting clean. I see some days with the wind switching to a more onshore direction, which is chop city. The scores are low, the comments say it’s marginal or poor, and I’m not going to lie to you, it’s just not worth paddling out for. You’d be scratching around for dribblers with a sideshore bump.
There is a slight improvement around the 18th and 19th when the wind goes more straight onshore and it’s light, but the swell is still tiny, 2 to 3 feet, and the period drops off a bit. It might be clean, but there’s just not enough push. It’s a real glassy, knee-to-waist high day at best. You’d be out there for the peace, not the waves.
The real shift happens starting the morning of Thursday the 27th of August. That’s when the ocean finally remembers how to flex. We see a jump in the forecast swell to 5.5 feet with a 14-second period, and the energy numbers climb into the four-digit range. It’s still not perfect, but this is where it starts to get interesting. The wind is light and straight on from the southwest, which is good for this break.
Then, Friday the 28th of August is the standout. The afternoon is the pick of the whole period. The swell is pushing 7 feet, coming from the SSW, and the period is a solid 13 seconds. But the best part? The wind just completely dies. We’re talking glassy conditions, zero wind. The energy reading jumps up to 1752, which is strong. This is the kind of day that gets the heart pumping. This will be the real deal, with some proper lines wrapping through the point. This is for experienced surfers, though, as 7 feet is well into that territory where it’s powerful and not for the faint of heart. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no major surprises there.
Let’s talk about Saturday the 29th. The swell is still solid at 5.5 feet, but the wind swings back to the west and becomes cross-on, so it won’t be as perfect as Friday. The energy drops back to the 875 range, and the period shortens to 11 seconds. It will still be a fun, punchy day, but Friday afternoon is the one you want to circle. Don't be fooled by the early morning on Friday the 28th either, it’s bigger (8 feet) but rougher. The afternoon is where it’s at.
So, if you’re keen, don’t waste your energy on the first week and a half. Save yourself for that window on the 28th. That’s the one with the real spark.
Alright, I’m out. Catch you in the water.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
302 | 404 | 807 | 417 | 683 | 666 | 499 | 372 | 367 | 330 | 264 | 261 | 232 | 240 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 246 | 236 | 236 | 175 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | cross | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:02AM1.53m | 10:48PM1.74m | 11:37AM1.55m | 11:31PM1.52m | 12:11PM1.55m | 00:18AM1.28m | 12:47PM1.51m | 1:15AM1.05m | 1:28PM1.45m | 2:46AM0.87m | 2:22PM1.40m | 3:41PM1.37m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 4:50PM0.32m | 5:23AM-0.01m | 5:38PM0.33m | 5:51AM0.17m | 6:30PM0.37m | 6:17AM0.37m | 7:30PM0.43m | 6:40AM0.56m | 8:50PM0.46m | 6:55AM0.73m | 10:43PM0.43m | 00:16AM0.32m | |||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
255 | 404 | 807 | 417 | 683 | 666 | 499 | 372 | 367 | 330 | 264 | 71 | 103 | 71 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 246 | 47 | 236 | 175 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | S 11 | W 5 | W 6 | S 10 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 9 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 |
302 | 214 | 46 | 191 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 29 | 36 | 63 | 261 | 232 | 240 | 55 | 61 | 43 | 28 | 236 | 46 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | W 11 | S 11 | W 11 | S 11 | S 10 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WSW 19 | S 10 |
37 | 66 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 20 | 19 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 116 | 98 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 57 | 35 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 4 | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 6 | 7 | — | — | 20 | — | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 85 | 13 | 85 | 85 | 13 | 85 | 85 | 13 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 15 | 85 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 19 | 85 | 85 | 60 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Trestles (Lowers) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Trestles (Lowers) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Trestles (Lowers) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Trestles (Lowers) 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 (Trestles (Lowers)) 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 Trestles (Lowers) 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.
Trestles (Lowers) is 6 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.











