Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
20.7°C
3.2° 

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


Depressions surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s period, S swell with 426 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Depressions in the next 16 days are 1.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sat 5th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Best Surf11PM (Sat 5th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Most Powerful11AM (Mon 7th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve scanned the charts for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a quiet stretch for Depressions. The ocean’s gonna be mostly doing a whole lot of nothing for us. Don’t get me wrong, there’s always a pulse, but it’s a weak one. We’re looking at a long run of small, unremarkable swells and plenty of onshore wind messing things up. It’s going to be a test of patience more than anything.

The first week is a write-off for any decent wave. We start Saturday the 5th with a tiny 2ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-onshore, and the water is 69°F, which is a massive 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s proper unusual, feels like a warm bath out there. The energy is only weak, around 464, and the report says it’s marginal at best. The next few days are much the same, with knee-high slop and light cross-shore breezes. There’s a slight bump in size around Tuesday the 8th, but the wind picks up out of the west at 12 mph, making it choppy and lumpy. The energy is still only moderate, hovering around the 390-530 mark. Honestly, you’d be fighting a losing battle.

We do see a bit more push in the swell on Thursday the 10th, with 4ft to 4ft from the SW, and the energy jumps up to 653. But it’s all for nothing as the wind swings hard to the WNW and hits 19 mph. That’s fresh and lumpy, and it’s turning the ocean into a mess. Not good for a wave ride, that’s for sure. This might be more interesting for the kite crew than us paddle surfers.

After that, it just fades away again. The swell drops back to under 3ft, and the wind stays cross-onshore. We go through a long, flat patch from the 12th through the 16th. The swell height might touch 4ft on the 13th and 15th, but it’s that weird short-period WNW wind swell, only 5 seconds, which just doesn’t have any push or shape. The energy levels are barely scraping 100-200, which is weak, weak, weak.

Now, looking further out into the second week, there are a couple of glimmers but they’re not for the faint-hearted. On Thursday the 17th, there’s a 6ft swell on the afternoon, but it’s from the WNW with a 6-second period and cross-onshore wind. That’s basically a close-out soup, and only for the most desperate. The real promise is the SW groundswell that’s lurking. A long-period 18-22 second swell is showing on the charts for the 14th, 17th, and 19th. This is the kind of clean energy we want, and by the 19th of September, we’ve got 2ft of SW swell with an 18-second period and just light cross-on winds. The energy is picking up, around 325. It’s still small, but this is the only time in the whole forecast that looks like it could produce a clean, glassy wave. It’s a long way out, so we call it promising but less certain. Don't hold your breath, but it’s something to dream about.

So, there you have it. No standouts, no glory days in this run. The first week is a total bust, and the second week is a gamble on a distant groundswell. Keep your board waxed and your wetsuit close, but it might be time to tune up your car or fix that fin you’ve been meaning to. The ocean will turn back on eventually, but it’s not looking like this week.

Rusty, out.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
1
1
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
15
0.9
SSE
14
1
S
13
1
S
13
1.1
S
13
1.1
S
13
1.1
S
12
1
S
13
1
S
13
0.9
SSW
11
0.6
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
12
1.2
SW
11
1.3
SW
10
0.7
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
242
201
198
308
361
350
426
395
356
319
324
213
127
203
238
344
287
251
193
176
171
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
10
WSW
10
NNW
10
SSE
5
W
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
N
10
WSW
20
W
10
NNW
5
SW
10
SW
10
WNW
15
W
30
WNW
15
NW
15
W
25
WNW
15
NW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
on
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
5:08PM2.02m
8:08AM1.47m
6:21PM2.11m
8:37AM1.57m
7:22PM2.19m
9:07AM1.68m
8:15PM2.22m
9:36AM1.79m
9:03PM2.19m
10:04AM1.88m
9:50PM2.10m
10:33AM1.95m
10:35PM1.96m
Low Tide
10:25AM1.29m
1:04AM0.26m
12:07PM1.22m
1:52AM0.16m
1:16PM1.09m
2:34AM0.11m
2:11PM0.93m
3:11AM0.12m
3:00PM0.78m
3:45AM0.19m
3:47PM0.66m
4:17AM0.32m
4:32PM0.57m
4:46AM0.47m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:20
7:19
7:16
7:15
7:14
7:13
7:12
 mm
Temp °C
23
24
21
24
24
21
26
27
24
29
30
29
34
32
28
33
33
27
28
30
23
Feels °C
23
24
21
23
23
20
24
25
23
26
25
24
33
31
27
30
29
22
27
28
20
  • 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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