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.
Fri, Apr 10: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle WNW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Sat, Apr 11: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Sun, Apr 12: 9–10ft, 11s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 9-10ft waves, 14mph WSW winds, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, Apr 13: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 9s and light NE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, Apr 14: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and light winds out of the NE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle WNW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
The sweet spot is around midday — 9-10ft waves, 14mph WSW winds, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
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 1-2ft with a 15.45s swell period. Wind is WNW at 5mph 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 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft W primary swell at 8s, a 0.9ft WNW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 9.4s 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.
