Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 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 14 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 5AM (Mon 14th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 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. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Depressions stretch.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is a real struggle. The water temperature is sitting at 71°, which is a whopping 8° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s feeling more like a bath than a proper autumn session. But the waves? They just aren’t cooperating.

There’s really no standout session in this entire outlook. The scores across the board are low, with most windows showing poor surf conditions. We start off with a bit of a tease on Sunday the 13th with a 3ft swell from the WNW, but it’s only an 8-second period and the wind is onshore from the SW at 6 mph. It’s marginal at best, with the combined swell energy sitting at a weak 270. That’s barely a ripple, and the wind is just enough to mess with any chance of a clean face.

Monday the 14th isn’t much different. Morning brings a similar 4ft WNW swell with a 9-second period, but again, that onshore wind keeps things messy. The energy is still weak at 272. The afternoon drops back to 3ft. Honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for.

From Tuesday the 15th onward, the swell drops away fast. We’re looking at 3ft or less for the rest of the run, and the period jumps around but the size just isn't there. The combined energy stays under 300, mostly in the low to mid 200s, which is weak. The wind is often cross-on or onshore, so the conditions are choppy or just flat and sloppy.

You’ll notice a bit of a bump in the combined energy around Saturday the 20th, hitting 373 and then 407 in the afternoon, but that’s on a 2ft swell from the SW at 18 seconds. That’s a long period, sure, but there’s just not enough height to make it work. The wind is cross-on and picking up to 12 mph in the afternoon, so it’s just messy. That pattern holds through to the end of the month: small, weak swell, with onshore or cross-on winds. Nothing comes together.

For a beginner-friendly spot that is fairly consistent, the complete lack of any decent window is a bummer. This is one of those stretches where you’re better off leaving the boards in the garage. There are long gaps here – basically the whole 16 days is one big gap of no real recommendations. The surf just isn’t on.

The best I can say is, if you had to pick the least-bad moment, it would be the morning of Sunday the 13th, but even that’s a stretch. The setup here, with the onshore winds and small, weak swell, would be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, to be honest.

Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it can’t stay this poor forever. But for now, I’d find something else to do.

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 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°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
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
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
8
2.2
WNW
6
1.6
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
9
1
W
9
1
W
9
1
WNW
9
0.8
WNW
8
0.6
W
8
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.3
SW
21
0.5
SSW
15
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
19
0.5
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
154
384
396
197
158
154
169
92
48
88
63
64
62
85
121
133
133
130
154
197
199
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
20
WNW
10
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SSE
5
SSW
5
ESE
10
SSE
10
SW
5
ESE
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
15
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
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
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
clear
<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
20
25
26
21
24
24
20
23
23
18
21
23
19
24
25
20
24
26
20
Feels °C
26
27
18
24
25
21
25
25
23
23
23
19
21
23
19
23
24
19
22
25
19
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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