Surf Forecasts:
Sunset Beach surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 629 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sunset Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Sunset Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sunset Beach in the next 16 days are 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. 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+) | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sunset Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day window for Sunset Beach is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak swells and tricky winds that just aren’t lining up for any decent paddle surfing. The energy is mostly low, and the conditions are generally poor.
We start off on Saturday, August 8th, with a tiny 2 ft SSW swell, but the wind is a cross-onshore breeze at 6 mph, making it messy. The water is a very warm 72°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight. That same pattern of small, weak swell and poor surf quality drags on through the first week. The swell bumps up a touch to 3 ft on Sunday, but the wind shifts cross-onshore again, and the period is still too short at 15 seconds to be meaningful. By Monday and Tuesday, we’re back to tiny 2 ft to 2 ft waves with onshore or cross-onshore wind. The combined energy rarely gets above 300, which is genuinely weak.
The only time the energy even tries to show up is around Friday, August 14th, where the combined energy jumps to 426 in the morning, with a long period of 19 seconds. But the wind is onshore at 6 mph, and the wave comment says it’s marginal. The swell is still only 2 ft. That’s not a surfable wave. Saturday the 15th sees the biggest swell of the whole run at 3 ft, with energy hitting 582, but it’s a cross-onshore mess again at 12 mph. The period drops to 16 seconds. This is a classic case of a setup that looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing—the wind is there, but the waves are too small and choppy for a proper ride.
The second week is more of the same: tiny 2 ft to 3 ft SSW swells, periods between 14 and 16 seconds, and energy levels bouncing between 140 and 416. The wind stays mostly onshore or cross-onshore. There’s a gap of several days with no real improvement, from the 8th right through the 23rd of August. A few mornings on the 17th and 18th have a slight onshore breeze, but the swell is still too small to do anything with.
Bottom line: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. Sunset Beach is a fairly consistent spot, so it’s a bit of a bummer, but it happens. Forecasts can change, but right now, leave the board at home and find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 237 | 203 | 366 | 249 | 242 | 218 | 163 | 139 | 184 | 95 | 154 | 207 | 143 | 173 | 206 | 166 | 251 | 242 | 199 | 280 | 629 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:06PM2.26m | 8:36AM1.51m | 7:07PM2.39m | 9:11AM1.61m | 8:00PM2.48m | 9:45AM1.71m | 8:49PM2.51m | 10:19AM1.80m | 9:36PM2.45m | 10:52AM1.88m | 10:21PM2.31m | 11:25AM1.94m | 11:06PM2.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:25AM1.24m | 1:49AM0.15m | 12:44PM1.17m | 2:34AM0.01m | 1:45PM1.06m | 3:15AM-0.06m | 2:38PM0.94m | 3:54AM-0.06m | 3:28PM0.84m | 4:30AM0.02m | 4:17PM0.76m | 5:04AM0.17m | 5:06PM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 237 | 203 | 366 | 249 | 242 | 218 | 163 | 139 | 99 | 95 | 154 | 207 | 143 | 173 | 206 | 166 | 251 | 242 | 171 | 280 | 629 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 12 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSE 12 | SSW 19 | SW 14 | SSW 9 |
| kJ | 36 | 56 | 11 | 8 | 32 | 30 | 65 | 97 | 184 | 33 | 57 | 28 | 27 | 46 | 69 | 37 | 36 | 45 | 199 | 169 | 45 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | S 9 | SSW 12 | W 13 | SSW 21 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | W 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 20 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 6 | 56 | 3 | 45 | 12 | 8 | 39 | 20 | 50 | 75 | 27 | 26 | 44 | 3 | 25 | 24 | 98 | 56 | 70 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 3 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | SSW 9 | — | — | SSW 10 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 8 | — | — | 9 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 14 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 140 | 0 | 140 | 140 | 29 | 32 | 181 | 20 | 140 | 140 | 15 | 32 | 99 | 20 | 32 | 140 | 0 | 140 | 99 | 44 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Sunset Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Sunset Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Sunset Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sunset 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 (Sunset 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 Sunset 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.
Sunset Beach is 4 km (2 miles) from the city of Seal Beach. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Seal Beach. Seal Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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