Surf Forecasts:
Sunset Beach surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 546 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with S 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 (Jul 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 2PM. 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 (Sun 19th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sunset Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Sunset Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a slow grind for the first week and a half. We’re looking at small, weak surf with a lot of cross-onshore wind messing things up. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing wild, but you’ll be comfy in a shorty.
From Tuesday 14 July through to the end of the week, the swell is tiny – mostly around 1ft to 2ft – and the period is all over the place. The combined wave energy is pretty weak (245), and with winds coming from the WSW or SSW, it’s gonna be choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out for.
The weekend of 18-19 July doesn’t look much better. Swell stays under 3ft, and while the period picks up a bit on Sunday (13-17 seconds), the wind is still onshore or cross-on. The energy starts to build (558 on the 19th), but the quality just isn’t there.
Into the second week, things start to change. By Thursday 23 July, we see a small bump – 4ft from the SSE with a 14-second period – but it’s still cross-on wind and only marginal. The energy is moderate (748). Still not a standout.
The real action shows up for the weekend of 25-26 July. Saturday 25 July morning brings a solid 7ft south swell with a 14-second period and light WSW wind. The energy is cranking (2451). That’s proper groundswell, and while it’s a bit much for beginners, it’ll be a treat for anyone with experience. The only catch is the wind switching onshore in the afternoon, so get on it early.
Sunday 26 July morning is another good one – 3ft but with a long 19-second period and light SW wind. The energy is high (1171) for the size, and it’ll be clean. That’s a long-period swell, so it’ll hold up better at the point or reef setups, but at Sunset Beach sandbar, it might be a bit straight. Still, worth a look.
If I had to pick one standout, it’s Saturday 25 July morning. The 7ft+ south swell, nice long period, and light offshore wind make it the best on offer. Crowds are likely though, so be early.
The rest of the outlook after that drifts back into marginal, small surf with onshore winds, so make the most of that weekend.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tue 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | S 13 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 123 | 152 | 78 | 96 | 90 | 67 | 88 | 91 | 130 | 74 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 160 | 311 | 354 | 344 | 310 | 258 | 334 | 402 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:45PM2.58m | 11:32AM1.72m | 10:33PM2.47m | 12:13PM1.77m | 11:22PM2.28m | 12:55PM1.82m | 00:11AM2.03m | 1:37PM1.86m | 1:05AM1.75m | 2:21PM1.88m | 2:10AM1.49m | 3:08PM1.90m | 3:45AM1.30m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:29PM1.00m | 5:00AM-0.12m | 4:23PM0.96m | 5:41AM-0.01m | 5:19PM0.95m | 6:21AM0.16m | 6:18PM0.95m | 6:58AM0.36m | 7:25PM0.96m | 7:34AM0.58m | 8:43PM0.94m | 8:10AM0.80m | 10:13PM0.88m | 8:48AM0.99m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 |
 | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | 8:00 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | W 5 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 15 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 123 | 96 | 14 | 16 | 48 | 67 | 65 | 31 | 25 | 14 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 160 | 311 | 273 | 344 | 191 | 143 | 334 | 402 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 6 | S 11 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SW 17 | SW 17 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | S 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 111 | 152 | 65 | 50 | 90 | 64 | 88 | 77 | 130 | 74 | 6 | 65 | 47 | 72 | 230 | 354 | 144 | 310 | 258 | 68 | 59 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SSE 11 | SW 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 6 | SSW 20 | SSW 13 | W 6 |
| kJ | 8 | 6 | 78 | 96 | 48 | 28 | 27 | 91 | 54 | 51 | 49 | 27 | 37 | 66 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 75 | 67 | 16 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 32 | 32 | 95 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 140 | 140 | 15 | 140 | 140 | 32 | 32 |
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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