
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, S swell with 388 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 5s 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 1.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8AM. 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+) | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's shaping up for the Depressions region over the next couple of weeks.
To be honest, it's a grim outlook. We're staring down a long, dry spell with nothing worth paddling out for. The first real chance of any surf doesn't show up until Friday the 4th, and even that is a long shot. Between now and then, it's all small, messy, and blown out with poor surf conditions.
Looking at the data, the water is currently about 71°F which is a whopping 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that's very unusual, almost like bathwater. But the warmth doesn't make up for the lack of waves.
Friday the 4th morning is the first time we see a glimmer of life, with a 3ft swell from the SSW at a long 17-second period. The wind is light onshore from the SW, and the combined energy is strong at 518 (moderate wave energy). But the forecast just calls it "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." It’s a beginner-friendly spot, fairly consistent, but crowds are possible here. For a begginer, that tiny, clean-ish window might be the only chance for a splash. Let’s be straight, though – this is not the day to call in sick.
From there, it's more of the same through the weekend and into the next week. The swell stays small, below 3ft, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, chopping everything up. The energy numbers hang around the 300-500 range, so there's some juice, but the conditions are just terrible. The 9th of September afternoon shows a bump to 6ft from the WNW, but with a terrible 6-second period and a 12 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s just a messy, blown-out beach break scene. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surf one.
The second week, from the 10th onwards, is even more depressing. Swell heights barely push 2ft, with long, groundswell periods that are just too weak and straight to make anything of. The wind is still a problem. We get a 1ft swell on the 17th with a very long 22-second period, but it's from the SW and with light onshore wind – that's just a barely-there whisper.
So, the brutal truth is there’s no standout day, no hidden gem in this 16-day window. The best you can hope for is a marginal session on Friday the 4th morning for the absolute beginners who just want a feel for it. For anyone else, save your energy and wait for the next forecast. This is one of those blank runs that happens here; the consistency is just not there, and it might be a while before it turns around. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 13 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
121 | 148 | 113 | 130 | 246 | 321 | 240 | 255 | 242 | 280 | 201 | 299 | 295 | 259 | 352 | 331 | 324 | 201 | 350 | 324 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:36AM1.21m | 2:24PM1.96m | 6:25AM1.24m | 3:43PM1.97m | 7:35AM1.36m | 5:08PM2.02m | 8:08AM1.47m | 6:21PM2.11m | 8:37AM1.57m | 7:22PM2.19m | 9:07AM1.68m | 8:15PM2.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:06PM0.60m | 7:03AM1.11m | 10:40PM0.53m | 7:59AM1.23m | 00:02AM0.40m | 10:25AM1.29m | 1:04AM0.26m | 12:07PM1.22m | 1:52AM0.16m | 1:16PM1.09m | 2:34AM0.11m | 2:11PM0.93m | 3:11AM0.12m | |||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 20 |
Feels °C | 22 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 |
121 | 103 | 62 | 130 | 246 | 321 | 240 | 255 | 242 | 280 | 139 | 299 | 295 | 259 | 352 | 331 | 324 | 132 | 350 | 324 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
68 | 148 | 113 | 50 | 73 | 121 | 114 | 129 | 111 | 151 | 201 | 144 | 140 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 31 | 201 | 50 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | W 12 | SSW 21 | SW 15 | S 19 | SSW 11 | WNW 10 | SW 12 | WNW 6 | SW 11 | SSE 16 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 18 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
1 | 3 | 42 | 58 | 112 | 69 | 38 | 65 | 18 | 43 | 87 | 18 | 18 | 140 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 50 | 6 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | W 4 | W 4 | WNW 5 | — | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | W 4 | W 5 | WNW 5 |
67 | 52 | 32 | 82 | 44 | 7 | 17 | 28 | — | 14 | 24 | 22 | 56 | 24 | — | 26 | 18 | 9 | 45 | 50 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 310 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 142 | 310 | 0 | 149 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










