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. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Tue, May 26: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Size picks up through the day, hitting 2-3ft with poor - fair conditions by late afternoon.
Wed, May 27: 5–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Morning kicks off with 3-4ft on WNW swell at 13s. Size picks up as the day goes on — 5ft by afternoon.
Thu, May 28: 2–3ft, 21s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 11s with light S winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, May 29: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 16s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - 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 14.4s swell period. Wind is ESE 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 1.1ft WNW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft WNW secondary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft SW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 Wednesday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 5ft waves, a 12.4s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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.
