Surf Forecasts:
Moonlight Beach surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,419 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 19s period with SW 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Moonlight Beach in the next 16 days are 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Moonlight Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming at Moonlight Beach.
Honestly, the first week and a half is a real bummer. From Thursday 16th July through to Saturday 25th, the surf is either poor or barely hanging on. The wind is mostly cross-shore or onshore, and the swell is small and messy. The wave energy is weak to moderate, with readings in the low hundreds to mid hundreds. It’s not a good time for a paddle.
The first real sign of life shows up on Sunday 19th July, with a jump to 6ft from the S, but the wind is onshore and cross-onshore, so it’s choppy. The energy hits 1414, but the quality is still lacking.
The standout window is the last few days of the month. The best of the lot is Saturday 25th July and Sunday 26th July. On Saturday morning, the swell is 6ft from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds, and light cross-onshore breeze with small ripples. The combined energy is a solid 2127, so there’s some real juice. The morning of Sunday 26th is also interesting: 3ft from the SSW, but the period stretches to a very long 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, which is OK, but that long period will make the waves a bit fat and straight at a beach break like Moonlight. It’s better suited to a reef or point.
The next week, Monday 27th July and Tuesday 28th July, keeps up a steady 4ft from the SSW, with periods of 17 to 19 seconds. The winds are light cross-onshore or gentle, so there are some clean windows. The energy is moderate to strong, reading between 1039 and 1357. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most consistent run in the whole 16 days.
Crowds at Moonlight Beach are "sometimes" an issue, so you might see a few others out.
For the beginners, the swell stays under 5ft for most of the run, so it’s mostly manageable. But when it hits 6ft on the 25th, that’s a bit much for a learner. The very long period swells (over 15 seconds) mean the waves will have more power and longer lulls, which can make paddling out easier, but the wave itself will be more critical.
Overall, it’s a slow start, but the last week of July offers some promise. The best bet is a morning session on Saturday 25th or Sunday 26th July, when the swell gets some size and the wind is lightest. Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wed 22 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 161 | 122 | 121 | 175 | 181 | 103 | 137 | 366 | 375 | 496 | 1322 | 1327 | 1073 | 603 | 394 | 452 | 387 | 474 | 468 | 437 | 394 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:28PM2.45m | 12:07PM1.76m | 11:16PM2.26m | 12:48PM1.80m | 00:05AM2.01m | 1:31PM1.84m | 00:58AM1.74m | 2:15PM1.86m | 2:03AM1.48m | 3:02PM1.87m | 3:37AM1.29m | 3:53PM1.88m | 5:50AM1.24m | 4:47PM1.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:35AM-0.01m | 5:13PM0.93m | 6:15AM0.16m | 6:12PM0.94m | 6:52AM0.36m | 7:18PM0.95m | 7:28AM0.58m | 8:35PM0.94m | 8:03AM0.79m | 10:06PM0.88m | 8:41AM0.98m | 11:35PM0.77m | 9:32AM1.13m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | SW 15 | SW 18 | S 12 | S 13 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 161 | 93 | 116 | 93 | 81 | 43 | 137 | 366 | 247 | 386 | 1322 | 1327 | 1073 | 603 | 394 | 452 | 387 | 474 | 468 | 437 | 394 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 7 | S 12 | SW 18 | S 16 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | W 6 | WNW 6 | S 15 |
| kJ | 73 | 122 | 121 | 106 | 181 | 103 | 26 | 100 | 375 | 496 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 264 | 136 | 130 | 101 | 31 | 55 | 343 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 11 | W 7 | W 6 | WNW 16 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | SSW 12 | W 6 | S 8 | S 13 | S 15 | W 6 |
| kJ | 18 | 47 | 46 | 175 | 74 | 83 | 39 | 21 | 13 | 82 | 79 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 60 | 17 | 22 | 89 | 165 | 27 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | 16 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 25 | 113 | 113 | 3 | 128 | 25 | 13 | 113 | 47 | 1 | 47 | 47 | 1 | 47 | 46 | 1 | 47 | 47 | 1 | 113 | 25 |
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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