Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 09 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
20.9° C
3.7° 

Depressions surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Depressions surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with 339 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period with S 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s is also forecast. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 9th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Tue 11th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 18s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sat 15th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. To be honest, the next couple of weeks here at Depressions are looking pretty grim. For the most part, we’re staring down a run of tiny, weak swell. I’m talking ankle-biters in the 1.3ft to 2.3ft range, with a few days pushing 2.6ft. The energy is consistently low, with most of the combined swell energy values sitting in the mid-100s to low-200s (143-286). That’s just not enough oomph to get anything fun breaking. We’ll have light winds, mostly onshore or light cross-onshore, which won’t help the cause. There will be a few morning windows of cleaner conditions, but with waves that small, it’s hard to get excited.

The one tiny glimmer in this first stretch comes around Saturday, August 15th. The morning looks glassy with light winds and the swell ticks up slightly to 2.3ft from the SSW with a 16-second period. It’s still weak, but that long period and clean conditions might give you a couple of slow, soft shoulders to trim on. It’s a marginal call at best, not a day to drop everything for.

Then we go right back into the poor-to-marginal mush for another week. Nothing changes much. Small swell, light winds, and a lot of closed-out or gutless waves. The energy does build a touch around the 20th and 21st, but the swell direction shifts to a short-period WNW, which just won’t wrap in here with any quality.

Finally, we get a real standout on the horizon, but it’s a long way off. Monday, August 24th, is the only day that looks like it has any real potential. The morning is forecast to be glassy, and we’re expecting a jump in size to 3.9ft, also from the WNW. The energy jumps to a strong 365, and the conditions are looking clean. This is the standout, no question. However, it's still a week and a half away, so treat it as promising but don’t bank on it. The afternoon on the 24th is forecast to get messy with the wind picking up and the period dropping to a short 6 seconds, so if this holds, make the most of that early session.

The water is currently a very unusual 6.7°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’ll feel like a warm bath out there, which is about the only thing that’s comfortable about it.

Overall, there are some consistent pulses of energy, but the size just isn’t there. For the shallow beach break here, the small, short-period WNW swells later in the period will be more of a nuisance than anything. To be honest, with the wind and the lack of decent swell, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for most of this forecast. Don't hold your breath for the next two weeks, but keep an eye on that Monday the 24th.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SSW
15
0.5
SSW
15
0.6
S
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SW
20
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
17
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.5
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
125
121
153
105
102
96
79
123
121
109
127
125
122
160
154
104
180
240
232
291
284
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
15
WSW
5
E
5
S
10
WSW
0
N
10
SW
10
WSW
0
SSW
10
SSW
10
WSW
0
E
10
SSW
10
WSW
0
N
10
SW
10
WSW
0
N
5
SW
10
WSW
5
WNW
Wind State
on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
9:02AM1.44m
7:24PM2.32m
9:38AM1.53m
8:19PM2.40m
10:12AM1.62m
9:09PM2.41m
10:46AM1.71m
9:58PM2.34m
11:20AM1.78m
10:45PM2.20m
11:54AM1.84m
11:32PM2.00m
12:29PM1.88m
00:20AM1.77m
Low Tide
12:58PM1.16m
2:57AM0.01m
2:01PM1.07m
3:39AM-0.05m
2:57PM0.96m
4:19AM-0.04m
3:49PM0.87m
4:56AM0.04m
4:41PM0.80m
5:30AM0.19m
5:33PM0.75m
6:03AM0.37m
6:28PM0.74m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:18
6:18
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:52
7:52
7:51
7:50
7:49
7:47
7:46
 mm
Temp °C
26
27
23
26
27
22
25
27
22
24
25
19
21
22
18
20
22
17
21
22
18
Feels °C
26
27
23
27
28
23
26
27
22
24
25
20
21
22
19
20
21
16
21
21
18
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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