Santa Cruz County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Sunset State Beach, Santa Cruz County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Mon, May 25: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Tue, May 26: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on WNW swell at 12s. Wind increases to 14mph from the NW.
Wed, May 27: 5–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Expect 5ft all day on WNW swell at 13s with barely a breath of wind — nothing amazing but surfable.
Thu, May 28: 2–3ft, 21s period, rated Fair. Expect 3-4ft all day on WNW swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind — nothing amazing but surfable. Expect the wind to bump up to around 8mph by PM.
Fri, May 29: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the SW and dropping conditions to fair.
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Sunset State Beach is the southernmost Santa Cruz County beach break, a long uncrowded stretch of sand just north of the county line. It picks up W and SW swells and produces punchy peaks at the right tide, often with the entire beach to yourself on a weekday. A great escape from the Santa Cruz crowds when the swell is right.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Sunset State Beach is 0-1ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is WSW at 2mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Sunset State Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.9ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft WNW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.9ft SW tertiary swell at 15s, a 0.9ft W wind swell swell at 6s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Sunset State Beach is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 20.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Sunset State Beach works best with a WSW swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Sunset State Beach. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Sunset State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Sunset State Beach is the southernmost Santa Cruz County beach break, a long uncrowded stretch of sand just north of the county line. It picks up W and SW swells and produces punchy peaks at the right tide, often with the entire beach to yourself on a weekday. A great escape from the Santa Cruz crowds when the swell is right.
The prime season at Sunset State Beach is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Sunset State Beach include rip currents, cold water, remote access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Sunset State Beach forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
