Surf Forecasts:
Moonlight Beach surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, S swell with 1,261 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Moonlight Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Moonlight Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Moonlight Beach in the next 16 days are 1.8m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Moonlight Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down what we've got.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks are mostly a flat, choppy mess. There's a long stretch of small, weak swell and onshore winds that’s going to keep the surf quality poor or just barely marginal. The one day that actually has me keen is right at the tail end of the first week into the start of the second.
The best bet is the morning of Tuesday, September 8th at Moonlight Beach. We're looking at a solid 6ft of groundswell from the SSW, with a period around 13 seconds. That's a healthy amount of energy (1242), and with a light breeze from the southwest keeping things just cross-onshore, it should be clean enough to be rideable. That's the highlight of the entire 16-day run.
Before that, from Sunday the 30th through Friday the 4th, we've got tiny waves – 3ft to 4ft – but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, just chopping everything up. The water temp is about normal for this time of year. Saturday the 5th shows a bit more energy (1035 in the afternoon), but the swell height is still under 4ft and the wind is sketchy.
Monday the 7th looks okay in the morning with a clean 4ft SSW swell (15-second period) and light offshore wind, but the energy reading (981) tells me it won't have much push. Then the afternoon turns ugly with a 15 mph southerly wind.
That Tuesday, September 8th, is the one. The 6ft swell might be a bit much for true beginners, but for the rest of us, that's the time to go. Keep in mind the swell is coming from the SSW, not the optimum SW, so the shape might be a little lined up instead of perfect.
After that, it's all downhill. Wednesday the 9th drops to 5ft but the period crashes to 9 seconds – weak and wonky. The wind cranks up to 12 mph onshore. The rest of the run into mid-September is just tiny 2ft to 3ft slop with onshore breezes. Not worth the effort.
Bottom line: circle Tuesday, September 8th on your calendar. That's the only real chance we've got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 530 | 472 | 389 | 257 | 228 | 156 | 116 | 113 | 152 | 95 | 129 | 288 | 193 | 455 | 651 | 692 | 717 | 620 | 512 | 512 | 590 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:04AM1.97m | 11:10PM1.79m | 11:32AM2.01m | 11:57PM1.60m | 12:06PM2.03m | 00:57AM1.39m | 12:48PM2.02m | 2:40AM1.23m | 1:47PM1.99m | 6:05AM1.25m | 3:13PM1.98m | 7:12AM1.38m | 4:45PM2.04m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:13PM0.65m | 5:10AM0.64m | 6:02PM0.64m | 5:33AM0.79m | 7:03PM0.65m | 5:58AM0.95m | 8:23PM0.65m | 6:24AM1.10m | 10:06PM0.59m | 7:00AM1.24m | 11:37PM0.46m | 10:01AM1.32m | 00:39AM0.30m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | WNW 7 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | W 6 | S 10 | W 5 | W 7 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 13 |
| kJ | 530 | 472 | 121 | 75 | 228 | 151 | 114 | 106 | 65 | 31 | 77 | 36 | 56 | 455 | 651 | 692 | 717 | 620 | 512 | 512 | 590 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | WNW 6 | W 6 | SSW 11 | W 6 | WNW 7 | S 13 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 112 | 88 | 389 | 255 | 161 | 156 | 116 | 113 | 90 | 95 | 95 | 288 | 193 | 78 | 58 | 35 | 75 | 39 | 58 | 356 | 481 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 10 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 14 | S 12 | S 13 | SW 10 | W 6 |
| kJ | 55 | 72 | 69 | 257 | 56 | 30 | 23 | 80 | 152 | 65 | 129 | 156 | 186 | 73 | 87 | 78 | 69 | 106 | 219 | 35 | 47 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | WNW 5 | W 5 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | — | W 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | 30 | 25 | — | 40 | 51 | — | 51 | — | — | 48 | — | — | 41 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 47 | 47 | 1 | 46 | 47 | 1 | 47 | 47 | 47 | 47 | 47 | 1 | 47 | 47 | 7 | 46 | 47 | 1 | 47 | 46 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Diego County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Moonlight Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Moonlight Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Moonlight Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Moonlight 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 (Moonlight 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 Moonlight 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.
Moonlight Beach is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Encinitas. If you plan a vacation in San Diego County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Encinitas. Encinitas has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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