Surf Forecasts:
Sunset Beach surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SW swell with 379 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 0.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) 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 (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sunset Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here again. Let's break down Sunset Beach over the next 16 days. Honestly, it's a tough outlook. The water's at 72°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's the only bright spot.
From Sunday the 13th through Saturday the 20th, we're stuck with tiny swell, just 1ft to 3ft. The energy is weak, reading between 167 and 463, and the wind is blowing onshore or cross-onshore from the SW or S practically every day, chopping the surface up. A couple of marginal mornings on Thursday the 17th and Saturday the 19th pop up, with light onshore wind at about 6 mph, but the waves are still small and the quality is poor.
Into the second week, Monday the 21st to Sunday the 28th, conditions don't improve. The swell stays small, maxing out at 3ft on the 21st afternoon with energy up to 538. But it's the same story—the wind is almost always onshore, so the wave quality stays poor. On the 27th, there's a 1ft pulse of swell with a very long 21-second period and clean offshore wind from the SW, but it's such a tiny wave it's hardly worth paddling for.
For a beginner-friendly sandbar, this stretch is a dud. The onshore wind just kills it, making it more of a kite-surfing setup than a surfing one.
So what's the pick? There is no real standout. The only chance is Sunday, September 27th afternoon with that tiny, clean 1ft swell—it's the best you'll see, but you'd need a foamboard and low expectations. Or maybe those marginal mornings on the 17th and 18th with light wind and 2ft of SW swell.
We're looking at a solid two-week gap with nothing decent to recommend. It's a long stretch of flat, choppy conditions, but that's just how it goes here sometimes. Keep an eye on the next update, 'cause things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 18°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | W 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 87 | 175 | 108 | 108 | 147 | 127 | 127 | 87 | 348 | 249 | 291 | 198 | 191 | 242 | 236 | 236 | 183 | 255 | 252 | 252 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:36PM1.69m | 11:30AM2.07m | 00:26AM1.50m | 12:00PM2.00m | 1:32AM1.33m | 12:34PM1.91m | 4:04AM1.24m | 1:20PM1.81m | 2:42PM1.74m | 8:15AM1.45m | 4:26PM1.74m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 5:33PM0.51m | 5:10AM0.80m | 6:21PM0.56m | 5:30AM0.98m | 7:16PM0.64m | 5:44AM1.12m | 8:30PM0.71m | 5:12AM1.24m | 10:11PM0.73m | 11:39PM0.66m | 10:15AM1.44m | 00:33AM0.57m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 16 | W 9 | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | W 6 |
| kJ | 55 | 175 | 70 | 42 | 29 | 127 | 39 | 12 | 348 | 249 | 291 | 198 | 191 | 242 | 118 | 236 | 47 | 37 | 252 | 50 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 6 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 6 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 87 | 44 | 108 | 108 | 147 | 20 | 88 | 87 | 11 | 14 | 28 | 48 | 46 | 65 | 236 | 104 | 139 | 255 | 37 | 252 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | W 10 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | S 9 | WSW 5 | SW 13 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SW 21 | S 11 | S 9 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 58 | 129 | 44 | 17 | 38 | 23 | 127 | 69 | 15 | 6 | 43 | 26 | 25 | 111 | 55 | 13 | 183 | 99 | 66 | 76 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSE 2 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 14 | — | — | 62 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 140 | 15 | 140 | 95 | 0 | 140 | 72 | 11 | 29 | 72 | 29 |
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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