Sunset Beach, California Weather
Sunset Beach, California — live current conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts, NWS alerts, radar and satellite imagery, tide predictions, marine conditions and a solunar fishing forecast, soil and crop conditions for Sunset Beach, Orange County.
Tides, marine forecast and fishing conditions near Sunset Beach. Tide source:
Full aviation weather for Sunset Beach is published on the Los Alamitos Army Air Field (KSLI) page, 8 km away. It carries the current METAR decoded into plain language — surface wind, visibility, cloud layers and ceiling, temperature and dewpoint, and altimeter setting — alongside the raw observation as transmitted. 6 airfields within reach of Sunset Beach have their own pages, listed below.
The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) is shown across its full validity period, with each change group broken out so you can see when conditions are expected to shift. Flight category is derived automatically — VFR, MVFR, IFR or LIFR — from reported ceiling and visibility, with runway details and field elevation alongside. Observations update roughly hourly and forecasts several times a day.
Other airports near Sunset Beach: Long Beach International Airport (KLGB) 13 km · Compton Woodley Airport (KCPM) 25 km · Zamperini Field (KTOA) 27 km · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport (KHHR) 34 km · Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) 40 km
Conditions reported at KSLI describe the airfield itself. Weather 8 km away can differ, particularly in terrain or near the coast. For conditions at Sunset Beach specifically, see the current conditions and forecast above.
Soil conditions, frost risk and crop weather for Sunset Beach.
About Sunset Beach, California
Sunset Beach unfolds as a narrow strip of land, a sun-bleached ribbon between the restless Pacific and the tranquil Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. It lies 4.6 miles south-west of Westminster, CA (from Westminster, CA: bearing 230°T), and is situated 7.7 miles east-south-east of Long Beach. Here, the air carries the briny tang of the ocean, a constant, invigorating perfume that permeates everything. Low-slung bungalows, painted in hues of turquoise, coral, and sandy beige, huddle together as if for warmth against the sea breeze, their porches often adorned with weathered surfboards and the cheerful clutter of beach life. The sand, a fine, pale gold, stretches wide and inviting, a canvas for the endless dramas of the tide. Beyond the dunes, the land flattens into a marshy expanse, a haven for a symphony of seabirds, their calls a wild counterpoint to the gentle murmur of the waves. The light here, particularly as the day begins its slow descent, possesses a molten quality, casting long, theatrical shadows and painting the sky in strokes of apricot and rose. This particular stretch of coast, Sunset Beach, has long drawn those seeking a simpler, more elemental existence. Its history is tied to the ebb and flow of coastal development and the enduring appeal of the ocean. The nearby Bolsa Chica wetlands, a vital sanctuary for migratory birds, represent a significant natural heritage, a reminder of the wilder past that still whispers through the modern landscape. While not a hub of heavy industry, Sunset Beach thrives on the steady hum of tourism and the year-round dedication of its residents to the surf culture that defines its character. The economy is intrinsically linked to the sea – surf shops, casual eateries serving fresh seafood, and rental properties catering to sun-seekers form the backbone of its livelihood. It’s a place where the pace is dictated by the tides, where conversations often begin with observations about the swell, and where the sunset isn't just an event, but a daily, communal ritual.
Live animated radar for Sunset Beach and surroundings — RainViewer.
NOAA GOES-16 GEOCOLOR — live animated loop updated every 10 minutes. Shows cloud cover, storm systems and weather patterns across the continental US.
Source: NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East · Public domain · Auto-updates on page reload
| Location | Sunset Beach, Orange County, California |
| Coordinates | 33.716407°N, 118.068952°W |
| Timezone | Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles) |
| ZIP Code(s) | 90742 |
| Area Code | 818, 747 |
| Page generated | September 2026 |
| Weather data | Open-Meteo (open-source), NOAA National Weather Service |
About This Sunset Beach, California Weather Page
This page provides live weather conditions and forecasts for Sunset Beach, California, including current conditions, a 24-hour hourly forecast, 7-day outlook, NWS extended text forecast, precipitation radar and NOAA GOES-16 satellite imagery. Aviation weather — live METAR observations and TAF forecasts — is published separately on the pages for the nearest reporting airports, linked from the aviation section above. Additional sections may include tide predictions, wave height, wave direction and sea-surface temperature, a barometric pressure trend, and a solunar-based fishing forecast with a fishing-conditions rating for coastal localities, and soil temperature, crop weather and live USGS river gauge data for agricultural areas near a monitored waterway. All data updates automatically on every page visit.
Location data for Sunset Beach includes coordinates 33.716407°N, 118.068952°W, situated in Orange County. ZIP code 90742. Telephone area code: 818, 747. Timezone: Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles).
Weather data is sourced from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) and the open-source Open-Meteo API. River and stream data is sourced from the USGS National Water Information System. Tide predictions are sourced from NOAA CO-OPS; marine and solunar data are modeled from Open-Meteo and public sunrise/moon calculations and should be treated as a general guide alongside on-the-water conditions. Radar is provided by RainViewer. Satellite imagery is sourced from NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East and is public domain.
