Surf Forecasts:
Trestles (Uppers) surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 382 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Trestles (Uppers) this week:
The surf forecast for Trestles (Uppers) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Trestles (Uppers) in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Trestles (Uppers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Trestles (Uppers). I gotta be straight with you – the first week and a half is a tough pill to swallow. We’ve got a long stretch of poor to marginal surf, with the wind messing things up most of the time. The real standout doesn’t show up until late in the game.
Right from the start, this forecast is a bit of a bummer. Tuesday the 18th kicks off with a weak 2ft SSW swell at 17 seconds, but the wind is a cross-on from the W at 9 mph, ruining any chance of clean lines. The water is a very warm 72°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year. The combined swell energy is moderate (394), but it just doesn’t matter with the chop. The next several days, from Wednesday the 19th through to the end of August, are a real grind. Expect small, knee-to-thigh-high waves, mostly in the 2ft to 3ft range from the SSW and SW. The period is often well over 15 seconds, which is a groundswell, but with the wind frequently onshore or cross-on, it’s a messy, frustrating affair. The energy stays moderate (ranging from 172 to 482), but the quality is just not there. It’s the kind of stretch where you’re better off doing something else.
We finally start to see a light at the end of the tunnel as we move into the weekend. Saturday the 29th of August is the first day that raises an eyebrow. The swell picks up to 4ft to 4ft from the SSW, with a period of 16-17 seconds. The wind is still a light cross-on, so it won’t be glassy, but there’s finally some real energy in the water (744 to 795 – moderate to strong). It’s still marginal and not the best Trestles gets, but it’s a contender for the best session of the forecast. The optimum direction is W, and this is coming from the SSW, so it’s not exactly lining up perfectly, but it’s a solid south swell.
Sunday the 30th is another one to look at, with similar 4ft SSW swell, but the wind switches to a light onshore from the S at 9 mph in the morning, which is a bit of a letdown. The afternoon cleans up slightly with a light WSW, bringing the energy down a bit (539).
The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is the 28th of August. Friday afternoon shows a SSW swell at 2ft, but the period is a whopping 19 seconds and the combined energy jumps to 482. It’s not the biggest, but that long period groundswell could bring some unexpected, clean lines if the wind plays ball. It’s a bit of a gamble that far out, but it’s the most promising signal in the whole forecast.
From the 31st of August into the start of September, we’re back to small, marginal surf with the same cross-on wind pattern. The 2nd of September has a 2ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, giving a decent energy reading of 642, but again, the wind is a spoiler.
So, to wrap it up: the whole 16-day window is a test of patience. The best chance at a decent wave is Saturday the 29th of August, with that 4ft to 4ft SSW swell. It’s not a classic Trestles day, but it’s the best we’ve got. Friday the 28th is a wildcard worth keeping an eye on for the long-period potential. The rest is a lot of small, onshore mush. Hang in there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
243 | 246 | 377 | 314 | 246 | 239 | 236 | 173 | 139 | 137 | 98 | 90 | 165 | 218 | 127 | 155 | 213 | 197 | 179 | 224 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:46AM0.87m | 2:22PM1.40m | 3:41PM1.37m | 8:16AM0.98m | 5:05PM1.40m | 8:13AM1.05m | 6:07PM1.49m | 8:24AM1.11m | 6:54PM1.59m | 8:38AM1.17m | 7:31PM1.68m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:50PM0.46m | 6:55AM0.73m | 10:43PM0.43m | 00:16AM0.32m | 9:51AM0.97m | 1:08AM0.21m | 11:54AM0.93m | 1:45AM0.11m | 12:49PM0.84m | 2:15AM0.03m | 1:27PM0.73m | 2:41AM-0.02m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 23 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 6 |
53 | 246 | 377 | 314 | 246 | 239 | 236 | 173 | 139 | 137 | 98 | 32 | 165 | 218 | 99 | 98 | 213 | 197 | 179 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 10 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 6 | S 13 | SW 17 |
243 | 48 | 57 | 41 | 23 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 90 | 20 | 48 | 18 | 155 | 199 | 24 | 82 | 224 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 8 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 12 | S 15 | S 13 |
98 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 31 | 57 | 57 | 8 | 81 | 50 | 47 | 50 | 27 | 58 | 127 | 15 | 12 | 89 | 68 | 126 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 86 | 0 | 78 | 206 | 15 | 64 | 86 | 0 | 83 | 86 | 0 | 83 | 86 | 0 | 83 | 119 | 0 | 83 | 86 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Trestles (Uppers) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Trestles (Uppers) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Trestles (Uppers) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Trestles (Uppers) 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 (Uppers)) 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 (Uppers) 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 (Uppers) 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.











