Sunset Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a big ol’ run of southwest swell lining up for Sunset Beach, but it’s not a simple story. The first real window kicks off early Friday morning, July 24th, and I’m calling it now – Friday morning is the standout of the whole outlook. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 57°F, but that’s not gonna put you off.

Friday morning, July 24th – Sunset Beach is absolutely pumping. We’re looking at a solid 12ft swell from the southwest, with a long 14-second period pushing a heap of energy (combined energy of 4362). The wind is glassy from the ESE at 3 mph, which means the surface will be clean as a whistle. This is big, powerful southwest groundswell, and it’s going to be firing down the line. The wave energy is strong to very strong, so bring your big-wave board and your courage. It’s an advanced, inconsistent break, so you’ll be paddling for your life, but the payoff will be epic. Crowds are possible, so get there early.

Friday afternoon – The swell drops a touch to 10ft, but the wind swings to a light cross-on from the SSW, so conditions get a bit lumpy. Not the call.

Saturday morning, July 25th – Dropping further to 7ft, with a cross-shore wind. Manageable, but not the best.

Sunday morning, July 26th – Glassy again with 7ft southwest swell, 12-second period, moderate energy (1398). This is a solid session, clean and fun, but the energy is a step down from Friday.

Monday, July 27th – The wind cranks up. Morning sees 16 mph cross-shore winds, and by afternoon we’re looking at 25 mph cross-shore. The swell is 8ft with a very long 16-second period, but it’s a messy, blown-out situation. The combined energy is strong (3222 and 3428), but the wind is a killer. Not for paddling, but if you’re into kite surfing, this setup could be interesting.

Tuesday, July 28th – The wind backs off and turns cross-offshore. Morning: 8ft, 15-second period, clean. Afternoon: 8ft, 14-second period, glassy clean. This is a solid day for experienced surfers with consistent, clean conditions.

Wednesday, July 29th – Morning: 6ft, cross-off wind, clean. Afternoon: 5ft, glassy. The swell drops, but the quality is still there for a fun, smaller session.

Thursday, July 30th – Swell down to 4ft. Not much happening.

Friday, July 31st – The swell jumps back up to 7ft in the morning, with a very long 16-second period and offshore wind from the NNE at 6 mph. Clean, powerful, and strong energy (3000). This is a good one for the experienced crew. Afternoon gets onshore, so it’s a morning-only deal.

Saturday, August 1st – Glassy all day, 7ft in the morning, 6ft in the afternoon. Both sessions are clean with moderate energy (1568 and 1621). Excellent conditions for experienced surfers.

Sunday, August 2nd – Morning glassy with 5ft, 13-second period. Good, smaller waves.

Monday, August 3rd – Calm, glassy conditions with 7ft southwest swell, 14-second period. Strong energy (1989). This is a quality, clean session for the experienced.

Rest of the run – From Tuesday, August 4th through to Saturday, August 8th, the swell stays around 5ft to 8ft, but the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, making it a bit lumpy. The combined energy stays moderate to strong (1000 to 3200+), but the wind keeps it from being a standout. There are some moments of clean cross-off wind on Thursday morning, August 6th, with 10ft swell, but the onshore wind returns by afternoon.

The bottom line: The absolute best on offer is Friday morning, July 24th – big, clean, powerful. The Tuesday clean-up on July 28th and the glassy runs on August 1st and Monday, August 3rd are also high-quality options. The second week has some promising moments, but the wind is less reliable. Keep an eye on the forecast because it can change.

Rusty.

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