CALIFORNIA / San ClementeSPOT / 756

San Clemente Pier South.

Pier / beach

Left & right33.419° N / 117.621° W

Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate San Clemente Pier South catalogue location — Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
Powered by Esri · Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community.

Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Open San Clemente Pier South on the map ↗Best surf near me

Forecast & tide at a glance

Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.

Estimated surf face2.4 ftOlder cached forecast Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific

Coastal wind10.2 mphWSW from · older cache

NOAA tide reference1.6 ftMLLW · Los Angeles

READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS

Swell by swell.

Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.

Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific

MFWAM · 2 components

Primary swell

2.8ft Hs

S from · 190° · 11.9 s

2.8 feet

Wind sea

0.2ft Hs

WNW from · 284° · 1.2 s

0.2 feet

GFS · all-zero feed unconfirmed

This model reports only zeros across its cached partition forecast while another model reports swell. This is not confirmation of flat surf. Check the other source or try refreshing later.

Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.

Coastal wind retrieved Thu Oct 22, 10:10am · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Oct 22, 10:10am (older cache) · ECMWF Oct 22, 10:10am (older cache) · MFWAM Oct 22, 10:10am (older cache). Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Tide predictions: Los Angeles, 69 km reference; retrieved Thu Oct 22, 8:00am. Station predictions can differ locally.

Seven-day overview

06:00–19:00 forecast hours; daily values are not a full-day maximum.
Pacific day	Estimated surf face	Mean wind	Hours available
Thu Oct 22	2.4 ft	8.5 mph	14/14
Fri Oct 23	2.4 ft	6.4 mph	14/14
Sat Oct 24	2.3 ft	7.1 mph	14/14
Sun Oct 25	1.8 ft	5.4 mph	14/14
Mon Oct 26	1.7 ft	6.0 mph	14/14
Tue Oct 27	1.9 ft	4.1 mph	14/14
Wed Oct 28	1.8 ft	4.6 mph	14/14

Hourly details · next 72 hours

Pacific time	Estimated surf face	Model range	Set proxy	Swell from	Wind	Tide MLLW	Models
Thu 1:00pm	2.4 ft	2.2–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 10.4 s	10.2 mph WSW	1.6 ft	2
Thu 2:00pm	2.4 ft	2.2–2.6 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 10.4 s	10.2 mph WSW	1.5 ft	2
Thu 3:00pm	2.4 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 10.3 s	10.1 mph WSW	1.9 ft	2
Thu 4:00pm	2.4 ft	2.2–2.7 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 10.2 s	11.3 mph WSW	2.6 ft	2
Thu 5:00pm	2.5 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 10.0 s	11.2 mph WSW	3.5 ft	2
Thu 6:00pm	2.5 ft	2.3–2.7 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 9.9 s	11.1 mph W	4.3 ft	2
Thu 7:00pm	2.5 ft	2.3–2.7 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 9.8 s	9.0 mph W	4.8 ft	2
Thu 8:00pm	2.5 ft	2.3–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 9.8 s	6.9 mph WNW	4.8 ft	2
Thu 9:00pm	2.5 ft	2.4–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 9.9 s	7.7 mph WNW	4.3 ft	2
Thu 10:00pm	2.5 ft	2.4–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 10.0 s	8.5 mph WNW	3.4 ft	2
Thu 11:00pm	2.5 ft	2.4–2.6 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 10.2 s	6.3 mph W	2.4 ft	2
Fri 12:00am	2.5 ft	2.4–2.6 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 10.4 s	1.1 mph NNW	1.5 ft	2
Fri 1:00am	2.5 ft	2.4–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 10.6 s	6.3 mph ENE	0.9 ft	2
Fri 2:00am	2.5 ft	2.4–2.5 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 10.7 s	5.8 mph ENE	0.8 ft	2
Fri 3:00am	2.5 ft	2.4–2.5 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 10.8 s	4.2 mph NNE	1.2 ft	2
Fri 4:00am	2.4 ft	2.4–2.5 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 10.9 s	8.6 mph E	2.1 ft	2
Fri 5:00am	2.4 ft	2.4–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.0 s	8.5 mph E	3.3 ft	2
Fri 6:00am	2.4 ft	2.4–2.5 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 11.1 s	8.1 mph E	4.4 ft	2
Fri 7:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.1 s	6.2 mph E	5.2 ft	2
Fri 8:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.1 s	6.4 mph ESE	5.5 ft	2
Fri 9:00am	2.4 ft	2.4–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.1 s	7.5 mph ESE	5.2 ft	2
Fri 10:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.2 s	7.6 mph SE	4.4 ft	2
Fri 11:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.2 s	7.2 mph SSE	3.3 ft	2
Fri 12:00pm	2.4 ft	2.3–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.2 s	6.1 mph SSE	2.1 ft	2
Fri 1:00pm	2.5 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 11.2 s	4.9 mph S	1.2 ft	2
Fri 2:00pm	2.4 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 11.2 s	5.8 mph SW	0.8 ft	2
Fri 3:00pm	2.5 ft	2.4–2.5 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 11.0 s	5.4 mph WSW	0.9 ft	2
Fri 4:00pm	2.4 ft	2.4–2.4 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 10.7 s	5.5 mph WSW	1.6 ft	2
Fri 5:00pm	2.4 ft	2.3–2.4 ft	3.6 ft	SSW · 11.8 s	6.7 mph W	2.5 ft	2
Fri 6:00pm	2.4 ft	2.3–2.5 ft	3.6 ft	SW · 11.7 s	6.0 mph WNW	3.6 ft	2
Fri 7:00pm	2.5 ft	2.5–2.5 ft	3.8 ft	WSW · 10.0 s	6.0 mph NW	4.4 ft	2
Fri 8:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.6 ft	3.9 ft	WSW · 9.8 s	5.6 mph N	4.8 ft	2
Fri 9:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.7 ft	3.9 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	6.2 mph NNE	4.7 ft	2
Fri 10:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.7 ft	3.9 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	5.8 mph NNE	4.1 ft	2
Fri 11:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.8 ft	3.9 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	6.2 mph NNE	3.1 ft	2
Sat 12:00am	2.6 ft	2.4–2.8 ft	3.9 ft	WSW · 9.7 s	6.2 mph NNE	2.1 ft	2
Sat 1:00am	2.6 ft	2.4–2.9 ft	4.0 ft	WSW · 9.8 s	5.8 mph NNE	1.3 ft	2
Sat 2:00am	2.6 ft	2.4–2.9 ft	4.0 ft	WSW · 9.8 s	6.3 mph NNE	0.9 ft	2
Sat 3:00am	2.6 ft	2.4–2.9 ft	4.0 ft	WSW · 9.9 s	5.7 mph NE	1.1 ft	2
Sat 4:00am	2.6 ft	2.3–2.9 ft	3.9 ft	WSW · 9.9 s	5.1 mph ENE	1.9 ft	2
Sat 5:00am	2.6 ft	2.3–2.9 ft	4.0 ft	WSW · 10.0 s	3.9 mph E	3.1 ft	2
Sat 6:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.8 ft	3.8 ft	WSW · 10.1 s	2.6 mph WNW	4.3 ft	2
Sat 7:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	WSW · 10.2 s	3.6 mph NW	5.4 ft	2
Sat 8:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	WSW · 10.3 s	4.5 mph NNW	5.9 ft	2
Sat 9:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.4 ft	3.6 ft	WSW · 10.4 s	3.4 mph NW	5.8 ft	2
Sat 10:00am	2.3 ft	2.3–2.3 ft	3.5 ft	WSW · 10.5 s	3.5 mph NW	5.1 ft	2
Sat 11:00am	2.3 ft	2.2–2.3 ft	3.4 ft	SW · 11.2 s	4.1 mph W	3.9 ft	2
Sat 12:00pm	2.2 ft	2.1–2.3 ft	3.3 ft	SW · 11.3 s	6.1 mph W	2.5 ft	2
Sat 1:00pm	2.2 ft	2.1–2.3 ft	3.3 ft	SW · 11.4 s	8.5 mph WSW	1.3 ft	2
Sat 2:00pm	2.2 ft	2.1–2.3 ft	3.3 ft	SW · 11.4 s	10.1 mph WSW	0.4 ft	2
Sat 3:00pm	2.2 ft	2.1–2.2 ft	3.3 ft	SW · 11.5 s	12.0 mph W	0.2 ft	2
Sat 4:00pm	2.2 ft	2.1–2.2 ft	3.3 ft	SW · 11.5 s	11.0 mph W	0.5 ft	2
Sat 5:00pm	2.2 ft	2.1–2.2 ft	3.3 ft	SW · 11.6 s	10.0 mph W	1.4 ft	2
Sat 6:00pm	2.1 ft	2.1–2.2 ft	3.2 ft	SW · 11.6 s	10.2 mph WNW	2.6 ft	2
Sat 7:00pm	2.1 ft	2.1–2.2 ft	3.2 ft	SW · 11.6 s	9.3 mph WNW	3.7 ft	2
Sat 8:00pm	2.1 ft	2.1–2.1 ft	3.1 ft	SW · 11.7 s	8.8 mph NW	4.5 ft	2
Sat 9:00pm	2.1 ft	2.1–2.1 ft	3.1 ft	SW · 11.7 s	7.9 mph NW	4.8 ft	2
Sat 10:00pm	2.0 ft	2.0–2.1 ft	3.1 ft	SW · 11.7 s	5.9 mph NW	4.5 ft	2
Sat 11:00pm	2.0 ft	2.0–2.0 ft	3.1 ft	SW · 11.7 s	4.2 mph NNW	3.7 ft	2
Sun 12:00am	2.0 ft	2.0–2.0 ft	3.0 ft	SW · 11.2 s	3.3 mph NNW	2.8 ft	2
Sun 1:00am	2.0 ft	2.0–2.0 ft	3.0 ft	SW · 11.2 s	3.0 mph NW	1.8 ft	2
Sun 2:00am	1.9 ft	1.9–2.0 ft	2.9 ft	SW · 11.3 s	2.7 mph NW	1.2 ft	2
Sun 3:00am	1.9 ft	1.9–2.0 ft	2.9 ft	SW · 11.3 s	2.0 mph NNW	1.2 ft	2
Sun 4:00am	1.9 ft	1.9–1.9 ft	2.8 ft	SW · 11.3 s	3.7 mph NE	1.8 ft	2
Sun 5:00am	1.9 ft	1.9–1.9 ft	2.8 ft	SW · 11.4 s	4.3 mph NE	2.8 ft	2
Sun 6:00am	1.9 ft	1.8–1.9 ft	2.8 ft	SW · 11.4 s	3.5 mph NE	4.1 ft	2
Sun 7:00am	1.8 ft	1.8–1.9 ft	2.8 ft	SW · 11.5 s	3.1 mph NNE	5.3 ft	2
Sun 8:00am	1.8 ft	1.8–1.9 ft	2.7 ft	SW · 11.5 s	3.5 mph NE	6.1 ft	2
Sun 9:00am	1.8 ft	1.8–1.9 ft	2.7 ft	SW · 11.6 s	1.4 mph NE	6.3 ft	2
Sun 10:00am	1.8 ft	1.7–1.8 ft	2.7 ft	SW · 11.6 s	1.4 mph SW	5.9 ft	2
Sun 11:00am	1.8 ft	1.7–1.8 ft	2.7 ft	SW · 11.6 s	3.1 mph WSW	4.7 ft	2
Sun 12:00pm	1.8 ft	1.7–1.8 ft	2.7 ft	SW · 11.6 s	5.4 mph WSW	3.3 ft	2
Sun 1:00pm	1.8 ft	1.7–1.8 ft	2.6 ft	SW · 11.6 s	8.2 mph WSW	1.7 ft	2

Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.

This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.

Know the spot

The south side of the San Clemente Pier.

Also known as Pier South.

Break type: Pier / beach
Wave direction: Left & right
Reported difficulty: Intermediate
Bottom: Sand; pier pilings
Reported swell preference: S–NW
Reported tide preference: Low–mid

More often shaped by the south-side bars and angles than the north-side setup.

Before paddling out: Pilings, shorebreak and crowd concentration.

Public access Reference-corrected coastal area; approximate takeoff, not surveyed

Source references

Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.

THE FIELD GUIDE / San Clemente Pier South

Read this stretch of coast.

Follow the swell window

The catalogue’s reported preference for San Clemente Pier South is “S–NW”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.

Check the water level

Reported tide preference: Low–mid. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.

Read the bottom and the lineup

Catalogue bottom: Sand; pier pilings. Reported difficulty: Intermediate. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.

A useful note for next time

Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.

Camera references nearby

San Clemente beach camera ↗

City of San Clemente · about 0.0 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

City beach-camera player with linked weather and water information.

Dana Point Harbor overlook ↗

HDOnTap / Laguna Cliffs · about 7.9 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Harbor and ocean panorama from Laguna Cliffs.

Salt Creek ↗

The Surfers View · about 11.3 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Publicly listed Salt Creek beach and surf camera.

Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.

Make the next session easier

Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work

Nearby spots to compare

PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.

COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE

Waves at the model cells

Awaiting shared model data

Significant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.

Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.