Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 13 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
21.8°C
4.5° 

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


Depressions surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 7s period, WNW swell with 476 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with WNW 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 19s 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 2.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 14th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 9s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 14th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 9s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sun 13th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 7s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk about Depressions in feet and miles per hour.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a pretty lean run. We're looking at a long stretch of small, choppy, or just plain messy conditions. The water temperature is sitting at 71°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. It's like the ocean forgot what season it is.

We’ve got a little pulse of energy coming through on Sunday the 13th. The morning sees a clean 3ft wave from the WNW, with a 9-second period and light onshore breeze. The swell energy is moderate at best (278), and the wave comment says it's marginal. It's not going to be a standout, but for a beginner spot that's fairly consistent, it might be the only window that's even worth a look. By the afternoon, the wind swings cross-onshore and the swell jumps to 7ft with a short, messy 6-second period – that's blown out and choppy, a real bummer.

Monday the 14th looks similar – a 4ft morning swell from the WNW with a light onshore breeze, but again, the forecast is calling it marginal. The energy is moderate (307), but it's not going to be clean or powerful. Tuesday drops down to 3ft or less, and from Wednesday the 16th onward, we're scraping the bottom of the barrel. Swell heights drop to 1.0ft or 1ft for days on end. There are some long-period pulses from the south in there, with periods up to 19 seconds, but the swell is so tiny it just doesn't matter. The wind is mostly light, but it's either onshore or cross-onshore, just enough to mess up what little is there.

There’s a gap of several days here where there’s nothing I’d recommend. From around Thursday the 17th right through to the end of the forecast on Monday the 28th, it’s all "poor surf conditions" or marginal at best. The energy readings bounce between weak (96) and moderate, but with tiny swell and persistent onshore wind, it’s just not going to happen. The setup is a beach, so with the wind and the short, weak swell, this is looking more like a kite-surfing window than a paddle-surfing one for the vast majority of the period.

Simply put, the best on offer is the Sunday 13th or Monday 14th mornings for a total beginner session on small, clean-ish waves. Everything else is a write-off. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is an unusual dry spell.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
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
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
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)
1
WNW
9
2.1
WNW
6
1.6
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
9
1
W
9
1
W
9
1
WNW
9
0.8
WNW
8
0.6
W
8
0.4
S
18
0.3
S
17
0.4
SSW
16
0.3
S
16
0.5
SSW
15
0.4
SW
20
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
19
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
162
352
380
232
158
154
169
92
49
98
53
98
45
123
121
133
133
130
154
197
155
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
20
WNW
10
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SSE
10
SW
5
E
10
S
10
WSW
0
ESE
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
WSW
20
W
10
NW
10
WSW
15
W
10
NW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-off
on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
11:30AM2.01m
00:10AM1.60m
11:59AM1.98m
1:05AM1.43m
12:31PM1.92m
2:21AM1.29m
1:08PM1.84m
5:08AM1.24m
3:16PM1.70m
8:18AM1.41m
4:47PM1.71m
Low Tide
6:05PM0.52m
5:39AM0.83m
6:55PM0.55m
6:02AM0.99m
7:53PM0.61m
6:19AM1.13m
9:08PM0.66m
5:56AM1.24m
10:39PM0.66m
11:58PM0.61m
10:39AM1.39m
00:51AM0.53m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:08
7:07
7:06
7:05
7:02
7:01
7:00
 mm
Temp °C
26
28
21
25
26
21
23
24
19
23
23
18
22
23
20
24
26
21
25
27
20
Feels °C
26
27
19
24
25
21
24
24
21
24
23
19
22
23
20
23
24
19
24
25
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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