Water temperature in San Clemente

San Clemente, California

Water temperatures refreshed hourly from NOAA buoys and forecast models.

Pack the right rubber and you'll extend your sessions in San Clemente by an hour. Temps swing from upwelling lows to summer peaks, and the difference between a 3/2 and a 4/3 day can come overnight.

71°F
Spring suit (2mm)

A spring suit or shorty wetsuit is ideal

7-Day Temperature Trend

Data from 204s · Updated hourly

Beach Water Temperatures

Current water temperatures at each surf spot. Temperatures can vary based on local conditions, currents, and depth.

Next steps

Keep planning San Clemente

Water temperature answers the gear question. Use the live spot list, best-window guide, and tide page to pick the actual session.

Surf spots in San Clemente

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Featured Beaches(9)

204s

Beginner friendly

204s is a beach break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.

Church

Intermediate

Church sits in the San Onofre / Trestles-area south of San Mateo Creek, but public surf traffic usually approaches it from the San Clemente/Trestles side. It is a cobblestone beach and rivermouth setup with point-like right walls when west swell and enough tide line up. South pulses spread the lineup into multiple peaks, and bigger southwest swells can make the wave feel much more serious than its mellow reputation.

Cottons

Intermediate

Cottons is the northern end of the Trestles cluster at San Mateo Point and is best understood as a Trestles / San Onofre border-zone wave with San Clemente surf taxonomy. The wave is a cobblestone point-and-reef style left that often breaks farther offshore than nearby peaks and can feel softer on average swells. Larger, longer-period south swells and lower tide add speed, shape, and more consequence through the inside.

Old Man's (SanO)

Beginner friendly

San Onofre State Beach represents California's surf culture birthplace, the "Waikiki of California" with gentle longboard waves rated 6/10 for consistency but 4/10 for performance.

Poche Beach

Beginner friendly

Poche Beach is a beach break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.

Riviera

Intermediate

Riviera is a south San Clemente beachbreak reached from the Plaza a La Playa access and the coastal trail. It is more of a local beach setup than a marquee reef, and it tends to be less consistent than T-Street but less crowded when it turns on. The wave is a punchy, often rippy beachbreak that likes solid south to southwest swell, with enough shape for fun peaks when the sand cooperates.

San Clemente Pier, Northside

Advanced

San Clemente Pier, Northside is a jetty break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for intermediate-advanced surfers. Watch out for rip currents, rocks, strong currents, pollution.

San Clemente State Beach

Beginner friendly

San Clemente State Beach is the broad beachbreak below the campground bluffs at the south end of town. It is consistently surfable, more approachable than the high-pressure Trestles peaks, and often works as a lower-stress fallback when the marquee reefs are crowded. The beach offers a long stretch of sand-bottom peaks with room to spread out when the bars cooperate.

T-Street

Beginner friendly

T-Street is San Clemente's best-known in-town surf spot and one of the most consistent everyday waves on this stretch. The setup blends beachbreak and reef influence, with local sub-zones commonly described around the Reef, Cropley's, and Beach House. South to southwest swell drives the main consistency, while selective northwest winter energy can light up different corners.

Spot guide for San Clemente

Break types, ratings, and local tips for each beach.

204s
beach
beginner-intermediate
3.6(15)

204s is a beach break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.

Church
beach
intermediate
3.5(16)

Church sits in the San Onofre / Trestles-area south of San Mateo Creek, but public surf traffic usually approaches it from the San Clemente/Trestles side. It is a cobblestone beach and rivermouth setup with point-like right walls when west swell and enough tide line up. South pulses spread the lineup into multiple peaks, and bigger southwest swells can make the wave feel much more serious than its mellow reputation.

Cottons
point
intermediate
3.8(16)

Cottons is the northern end of the Trestles cluster at San Mateo Point and is best understood as a Trestles / San Onofre border-zone wave with San Clemente surf taxonomy. The wave is a cobblestone point-and-reef style left that often breaks farther offshore than nearby peaks and can feel softer on average swells. Larger, longer-period south swells and lower tide add speed, shape, and more consequence through the inside.

Old Man's (SanO)
beach
beginner
3.0(1)

**San Onofre State Beach** represents California's surf culture birthplace, the "Waikiki of California" with gentle longboard waves rated 6/10 for consistency but 4/10 for performance.

Poche Beach
beach
beginner-intermediate
3.7(15)

Poche Beach is a beach break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.

Riviera
beach
intermediate

Riviera is a south San Clemente beachbreak reached from the Plaza a La Playa access and the coastal trail. It is more of a local beach setup than a marquee reef, and it tends to be less consistent than T-Street but less crowded when it turns on. The wave is a punchy, often rippy beachbreak that likes solid south to southwest swell, with enough shape for fun peaks when the sand cooperates.

San Clemente Pier, Northside
jetty
intermediate-advanced
4.2(18)

San Clemente Pier, Northside is a jetty break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for intermediate-advanced surfers. Watch out for rip currents, rocks, strong currents, pollution.

San Clemente State Beach
beach
beginner-intermediate
3.6(17)

San Clemente State Beach is the broad beachbreak below the campground bluffs at the south end of town. It is consistently surfable, more approachable than the high-pressure Trestles peaks, and often works as a lower-stress fallback when the marquee reefs are crowded. The beach offers a long stretch of sand-bottom peaks with room to spread out when the bars cooperate.

T-Street
beach
beginner-intermediate
3.8(17)

T-Street is San Clemente's best-known in-town surf spot and one of the most consistent everyday waves on this stretch. The setup blends beachbreak and reef influence, with local sub-zones commonly described around the Reef, Cropley's, and Beach House. South to southwest swell drives the main consistency, while selective northwest winter energy can light up different corners.

What to know about water temperature

  • Weekly temperature trends and seasonal averages
  • Gear recommendations for dawn patrol versus midday
  • Upwelling signals that drop temps overnight
  • Health and recovery tips for long cold sessions

Surf Guides for San Clemente

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in San Clemente

Water temperatures in San Clemente typically range from 55-72°F. For summer, spring suit or 3/2mm is recommended. In winter, you'll want 4/3mm. Spring and fall may require adjusting based on your cold tolerance.
Water temperatures in San Clemente vary by season, ranging from 55-72°F. Check Quiver's live water temperature data for real-time readings at specific surf spots. Temperatures are typically warmest around August-September and coldest in January-February.
Water temperatures in San Clemente range from 55-72°F, so most surfers wear at least spring suit or 3/2mm even in summer. A wetsuit is recommended year-round for longer sessions and early morning surfs.

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