Surf Forecasts:
Beer Can Beach surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with 705 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Beer Can Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Beer Can Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Beer Can Beach in the next 16 days are 1.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Beer Can Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s lining up at Beer Can Beach.
Right now, the outlook is a slow burn. We’ve got small, weak swell with not much push. The water’s sitting at 63° – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so a pleasant dip but don’t expect much juice in the waves yet. Over the next week, heights stay tiny, around 1ft to 2ft, and the swell direction is mostly SSW. The period is long, 13 to 19 seconds, so it’s groundswell, but there’s so little size it’s barely making it happen.
Saturday the 22nd is a write-off. Poor surf conditions in the morning with a light cross-shore, and the afternoon goes glassy but still only 1ft. That’s a paddle float day. Sunday the 23rd morning cleans up a bit – cross-off wind, 1ft from the SW with a period of 19 seconds (very long period), but still weak energy (181). Not worth rushing for.
Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 26th stays in the doldrums. Waves hover around 1ft to 2ft, mostly cross-shore winds, occasional glassy patches in the afternoons. The energy ticks up a bit on Monday morning (308) but the surf quality remains poor. Thursday the 27th shows a slight lift: morning sees 3ft from the S, period 13 seconds, clean with cross-off wind (363 energy). Thursday afternoon goes dead calm and glassy – 3ft from the S. That’s a decent window for a beginner session, but nothing for the crew chasing power.
Friday the 28th afternoon is the first true standout. Glassy conditions, 2ft from the SSW with a 19-second period, and the energy jumps to 419. Expect good surf conditions here – clean, long lines, super easy paddling. The swell direction matches the optimum SSW. This is the best on offer for the first week.
Saturday the 29th afternoon also looks good: glassy, 3ft from the SSW, period 16 seconds, energy at 455. Good surf conditions again. But Saturday morning is marginal, cross-shore wind and 3ft with a lot of energy (600) but the wind messes it. Sunday the 30th afternoon goes calm and glassy, 3ft from the SSW.
From Monday the 31st to Wednesday the 2nd of September, we’re back to small stuff – 2ft to 3ft, with occasional glassy afternoons but nothing to write home about.
Then things get interesting around the 3rd of September. Thursday the 3rd afternoon – 3ft from the SSW, period 19 seconds, energy at 514. Cross-shore wind but the pulse is strong. Friday the 4th afternoon hits 4ft from the SSW, period 19 seconds, massive energy at 1178 – that’s strong wave energy, but the wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not clean. Saturday the 5th morning stays 4ft from the SSW, period 18 seconds, energy at 1058. Cross-shore again. These days are marginal – there’s size and power but the wind holds it back. For a sheltered spot like Beer Can Beach, that SSW swell is right on, but the lack of offshore wind means it won’t be perfect. Still, this is the biggest swell of the whole 16-day window. For advanced surfers who don’t mind a little texture, Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th offer the most grunt.
Sunday the 6th of September fades back to 3ft to 4ft. The combo of long period and beach-break setup means the waves might break a bit straight, but for a sheltered beginner-friendly break like this, it’s fine.
Best on offer: Friday the 28th afternoon for clean, glassy fun, and Friday the 4th of September afternoon if you want power (though a bit ruffled). The crowds at Beer Can Beach can pop up sometimes, so keep an eye out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 18 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
67 | 65 | 45 | 131 | 113 | 113 | 155 | 153 | 179 | 219 | 129 | 124 | 159 | 150 | 482 | 289 | 202 | 142 | 264 | 329 | 486 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 9:19AM1.45m | 6:56PM1.92m | 9:50AM1.49m | 7:47PM1.98m | 10:15AM1.54m | 8:32PM2.04m | 10:38AM1.59m | 9:13PM2.08m | 11:01AM1.64m | 9:53PM2.08m | 11:23AM1.71m | 10:33PM2.05m | 11:46AM1.78m | 11:14PM1.97m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:43PM1.34m | 2:43AM0.43m | 1:43PM1.30m | 3:21AM0.37m | 2:31PM1.24m | 3:54AM0.32m | 3:14PM1.17m | 4:25AM0.30m | 3:55PM1.08m | 4:53AM0.32m | 4:36PM0.99m | 5:21AM0.37m | 5:18PM0.90m | ||||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 27 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 27 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 14 | WNW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | S 16 | WNW 8 | S 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | WNW 9 |
39 | 65 | 66 | 81 | 88 | 87 | 71 | 153 | 47 | 219 | 129 | 20 | 31 | 122 | 482 | 107 | 202 | 158 | 157 | 329 | 261 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 17 | SW 17 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 18 | WNW 7 | S 13 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 17 | S 11 | SSW 18 |
67 | 33 | 30 | 131 | 113 | 106 | 153 | 106 | 179 | 89 | 87 | 124 | 159 | 150 | 84 | 289 | 74 | 100 | 264 | 58 | 486 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | S 13 | W 17 | W 16 | SSW 13 | W 13 | W 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 11 | SSW 15 | S 11 | W 10 | S 10 |
50 | 44 | 45 | 50 | 51 | 113 | 155 | 12 | 92 | 23 | 45 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 107 | 74 | 38 | 142 | 64 | 32 | 33 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | — | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | WNW 8 | — |
9 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | 69 | — | 32 | 35 | 43 | — | 56 | — | — | 191 | — | — | 197 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 324 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Beer Can Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Beer Can Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Beer Can Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Beer Can Beach 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 (Beer Can Beach) 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 Beer Can Beach 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.
Beer Can Beach is 3 km (2 miles) from the city of Live Oak. If you plan a vacation in Santa Cruz, look for hotels and other accommodation in Live Oak. Live Oak has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











