Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SSW swell with 373 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Depressions this week:
The surf forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Depressions in the next 16 days are 0.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and Fahrenheit. This 16-day forecast for Depressions is a real bummer, so don’t get your hopes up.
Right from Wednesday, 12 August, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell with onshore and cross-onshore winds. The water is warm, way warmer than normal for this time of year – 71°F, a massive 8°F above average. But that doesn’t help the waves. Swell is 1ft to 2ft, with a long period over 15 seconds, but it’s blown out and poor. The energy is weak to moderate.
Saturday, 15 August is the first time we see a 2ft to 3ft SSW groundswell, but the wind is still cross-onshore in the afternoon, making it choppy. The morning is marginal at best. Sunday, 16 August morning is the same – a marginal call with a light onshore breeze.
The next week is a long, slow grind of small, onshore slop. 18 August throws up a 3ft WNW swell, but it’s a short-period windswell of 8 seconds, so it’s weak and messy. The wind is onshore from the WSW.
The only thing that looks different is on Monday, 24 August afternoon, when the swell jumps to 5ft from the WNW, but with a period of only 5 seconds. That’s a short-period, choppy windswell. The energy is moderate (281), but with cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a choppy, blown-out mess better suited for kitesurfing than surfing.
The second week is more of the same: tiny, onshore, poor conditions. There isn’t a single standout session in this whole window. The closest you’ll get to a wave is on the mornings of the 15th through the 19th, where you might find a clean but small 2ft to 3ft wave with light wind. Don’t expect much. Keep the board in the car and hope for a change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
109 | 127 | 125 | 122 | 160 | 154 | 104 | 180 | 240 | 232 | 295 | 318 | 245 | 191 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 140 | 107 | 153 | 155 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:46AM1.71m | 9:58PM2.34m | 11:20AM1.78m | 10:45PM2.20m | 11:54AM1.84m | 11:32PM2.00m | 12:29PM1.88m | 00:20AM1.77m | 1:03PM1.89m | 1:15AM1.53m | 1:40PM1.88m | 2:25AM1.33m | 2:22PM1.84m | 4:21AM1.20m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:49PM0.87m | 4:56AM0.04m | 4:41PM0.80m | 5:30AM0.19m | 5:33PM0.75m | 6:03AM0.37m | 6:28PM0.74m | 6:34AM0.58m | 7:27PM0.75m | 7:02AM0.78m | 8:36PM0.76m | 7:28AM0.97m | 10:00PM0.75m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 26 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 23 | 28 | 29 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 |
109 | 127 | 125 | 122 | 160 | 154 | 104 | 180 | 240 | 232 | 295 | 318 | 245 | 191 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 140 | 107 | 153 | 120 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 15 | WNW 10 | S 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | S 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 15 |
16 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 140 | 100 | 45 | 45 | 8 | 42 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 46 | 44 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | S 10 | W 13 | S 10 | S 18 | S 10 | S 16 | S 9 | SW 19 |
27 | 44 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 75 | 87 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 80 | 2 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | W 4 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 20 | 20 | 11 | 45 | 33 | 24 | 66 | 74 | 62 | 98 | 137 | — | 147 | 155 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 310 | 1 | 0 | 136 | 35 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Depressions Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Depressions provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Depressions can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Depressions surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Depressions) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Depressions may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Depressions is 1 km (1 miles) from Isla Vista. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Isla Vista. Isla Vista has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











