Surf Forecasts:
Trestles (Uppers) surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with 980 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) 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+) | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Trestles (Uppers) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Trestles (Uppers). This is a reef and point set-up, very consistent, and it loves a good W swell. The water’s runnin’ a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, about 71°, which is noticeably above average.
First things first, the next few days are pretty bleak. Thursday morning, August 20, has a weak 3 ft SSW swell out of the southwest with a period of 14 seconds, but the energy is weak (334) and the wind is on it from the SW. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” and I’m not feeling it. That carries right through until about Wednesday, August 26. There’s a solid stretch of poor to marginal conditions, with swell sizes hanging around 1 ft to 3 ft and cross-onshore winds messin’ up the surface. Honestly, it’s a bit of a write-off for paddle surfing.
Now, things start to look a little more interesting from Wednesday morning, August 26. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the S with a period of 13 seconds, and the energy climbs to 884, which is moderate. The wind is a light cross-onshore breeze, so it’s not perfect but it’s a step up. By Wednesday afternoon, the swell hits 5 ft from the S, period still 13 seconds, and energy jumps to 1046 – that’s moderate-to-strong energy. The wind goes light and onshore from the SW, which could be glassy. The rating improves to a 3 out of 10, so this is the best of a so-so bunch.
Thursday, August 27, has a 4 ft to 5 ft SSW swell, but the wind is picking up and cross-onshore, making it rough. Friday, August 28, morning has a 5 ft SSW swell with light onshore wind (SW), which could be clean for a bit. The energy is still strong (837), but the period drops to 12 seconds, so it’s a shorter-period swell. Not a standout.
The standout for the whole period is that Wednesday afternoon, August 26, session at Trestles (Uppers). It’s got a solid 5 ft S swell, moderate-to-strong energy (1046), and the wind is light and onshore. The swell direction isn’t the ideal W, but S has some merit here due to the point’s exposure. The crowd is always an issue – it’s Uppers, so expect it to be packed. But for this long run of poor conditions, that’s about as good as it gets. For the rest of the run through to early September, the swell drops back to 2 ft to 4 ft, with cross-onshore winds, and the ratings are low. It’s a flat spell with a brief pulse of power in the last week of August.
If you’re a beginner, the 5 ft swell is probably fine, but anything over 5 ft will be too much. With the waves mostly under that mark, it’s okay. But the lack of quality and clean wind means it’s a tough call. Kite surfers might find the stronger wind days in late August more interesting than paddlers.
Keep an eye on that Wednesday, August 26, afternoon. It’s the only real glimmer in the 16 days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
239 | 236 | 175 | 139 | 137 | 98 | 92 | 188 | 218 | 127 | 155 | 213 | 197 | 179 | 224 | 216 | 222 | 470 | 551 | 663 | 980 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 8:56AM1.23m | 8:05PM1.75m | 9:16AM1.30m | 8:37PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:01PM0.63m | 3:06AM-0.06m | 2:35PM0.54m | 3:31AM-0.06m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 25 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 16 | S 13 | W 7 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 |
239 | 236 | 175 | 139 | 137 | 98 | 41 | 188 | 36 | 52 | 26 | 213 | 38 | 179 | 60 | 216 | 222 | 150 | 551 | 663 | 980 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SW 18 | S 13 | SW 17 | S 13 | SW 16 | S 13 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 |
38 | 27 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 92 | 28 | 218 | 99 | 98 | 30 | 197 | 82 | 224 | 128 | 163 | 470 | 74 | 57 | 94 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | S 15 | S 13 | SSE 11 | W 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 13 |
57 | 57 | 8 | 81 | 48 | 47 | 52 | 27 | 58 | 127 | 155 | 199 | 89 | 38 | 126 | 22 | 24 | 159 | 259 | 326 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | W 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | 47 | — | 64 | 94 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 86 | 64 | 83 | 86 | 0 | 86 | 86 | 0 | 86 | 86 | 0 | 86 | 86 | 0 | 86 | 86 | 24 | 64 | 143 | 28 |
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.











