Sunset Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

The old girl is looking a bit rough for the next few days, a bit of a nothing stretch to be honest. Water temps are way down, 52°F and that’s a solid 8°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting the thickest rubber you’ve got. Don’t expect much until the back half of the week. There’s a serious gap here, so don’t get too keen.

Monday the 7th you’re looking at a crossed-up 7ft SW swell with a 14-second period at Sunset Beach, but the wind is all wrong, light cross-onshore from the west. It’s messy and the tide looks questionable. A real “watch it from the sand” kind of day. Tuesday and Wednesday are smaller again, dropping right off. You’re in the 2ft to 3ft range with the swell direction going a bit wonky. There’s some glass on Tuesday morning, but there just isn’t enough push to make it worth a paddle. This is a flat period, simple as that.

Now, Thursday the 10th, we get a pulse of energy. The combined energy is 2886, which is getting more interesting. An 8ft SW swell with a long 15-second period swings through. But the wind is cross-on from the south and it’s choppy. The size is there for the experienced crew, but the quality gets a big thumbs down. It’s not a day for the faint-hearted, and conditions are poor.

The real standout is Sunday morning, the 13th. This is your window. The swell is still solid at 7ft from the SW, a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1522. But here’s the kicker – a light offshore from the north is grooming it. Clean lines, proper shape. For experienced surfers, this is as good as it gets in this run. The crowd could be a factor, so get in early. If you’ve got the skill, this is the session.

Monday the 14th has some cross-off wind too, but it’s a step down in size at 6ft. It’ll be okay, but not the same class as Sunday.

Then we look ahead. We’ve got a big one on the 16th. A 13ft WSW monster with a 16-second period and energy readings of 8182. That’s a lot of water moving. But it’s mostly onshore, rainy, and a complete mess. This is not for paddling; this is a hold-onto-your-hats kind of day. For your safety, and your board's, give it a miss. There's a chance the afternoon is a bit more manageable at 10ft, but the wind is still ugly.

The week after that is a bit of a write-off. Wind and chop dominate. There are some smaller clean windows on the 18th with a 4ft swell and offshore wind, but it’s weak. The period drops to 12 seconds, and the energy is just not there to make it worth a paddle.

The final few days keep the same story. Nothing really firing, just a lot of onshore slop.

So, bottom line: the standout is Sunday morning, the 13th. Get on it. The second call would be the afternoon of the 16th, but only for the experts who are comfortable in big, messy conditions.

Rusty.

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