Surf Forecasts:
Carmel Beach surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Carmel Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Carmel Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Carmel Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 11s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Carmel Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.
First off, we’re looking at a bit of a tough start. The early window is pretty grim with a lot of onshore and cross-onshore wind messing things up. The real bright spot in this whole run is Friday morning, 28 August. That’s where the magic is. The wind is light and cross-offshore, the swell is a clean 2 ft from the SSW with a very long period of 17 seconds, giving us good energy and shape. The combined swell energy is strong at 544 (moderate to strong), and it’s a very consistent sandbar. It won’t be massive, but it’ll be clean and fun for everyone. You might get a few people out there since it can get busy sometimes.
Now, the water temp at Carmel Beach is sitting around 60°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
After that Friday morning, it goes downhill again. The winds swing onshore or cross-onshore for the rest of the run, and the surf quality drops off. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th have a bit more size—around 3 ft to 4 ft—but the wind is chopping things up. We see some longer period swells coming through, but the conditions just aren’t cooperating.
Into the second week, from 1 September onwards, it’s a dry spell. The swell drops to tiny 2 ft to 3 ft, mostly from the SSW and SW, with period up to 18 seconds. But the winds are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the wave comments keep saying poor or marginal. There are no real standouts. The combined swell energy is mostly in the low to moderate range (153 to 790), so nothing to get excited about. The whole stretch from Saturday afternoon the 29th right through to the end of the forecast on 11 September is a long gap with no recommended sessions. It’s a bit of a blank run, but these things happen.
So, bottom line: if you can get out on Friday morning the 28th, that’s your best bet. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 6 | S 12 | NW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 97 | 134 | 164 | 267 | 424 | 589 | 697 | 499 | 627 | 451 | 405 | 330 | 261 | 207 | 154 | 154 | 99 | 96 | 141 | 137 | 255 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:23AM1.26m | 10:32PM1.64m | 11:45AM1.34m | 11:11PM1.57m | 12:09PM1.41m | 11:54PM1.47m | 12:34PM1.49m | 00:42AM1.35m | 1:03PM1.56m | 1:40AM1.21m | 1:37PM1.62m | 2:53AM1.07m | 2:19PM1.66m | 4:32AM0.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:30PM0.63m | 5:21AM0.02m | 5:11PM0.55m | 5:47AM0.11m | 5:55PM0.47m | 6:13AM0.23m | 6:42PM0.39m | 6:41AM0.38m | 7:36PM0.33m | 7:10AM0.54m | 8:38PM0.27m | 7:42AM0.70m | 9:51PM0.21m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | NW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | S 12 | NW 9 | S 13 |
| kJ | 89 | 120 | 131 | 134 | 424 | 589 | 198 | 499 | 236 | 261 | 193 | 254 | 261 | 207 | 103 | 72 | 54 | 38 | 141 | 68 | 255 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | S 12 | SW 14 | SSW 17 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 18 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 10 | SSW 13 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 74 | 134 | 164 | 267 | 31 | 27 | 697 | 5 | 627 | 451 | 405 | 330 | 236 | 173 | 154 | 154 | 99 | 96 | 74 | 137 | 62 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | SW 14 | S 11 | S 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | S 11 | NW 4 |
| kJ | 39 | 103 | 89 | 55 | 34 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 77 | 100 | 123 | 72 | 66 | 63 | 119 | 58 | 16 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | — | — | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 97 | — | — | 143 | 173 | 131 | — | 223 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 149 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 20 | 45 | 45 | 20 | 45 | 45 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 45 | 20 | 148 | 45 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Monterey | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Carmel Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Carmel Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Carmel Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Carmel 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 (Carmel 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 Carmel 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.
Carmel Beach is 3 km (2 miles) from Monterey. If you plan a vacation in Monterey, look for hotels and other accommodation in Monterey. Monterey has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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