
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with 475 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s 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 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
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 cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
First off, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty quiet stretch ahead. We’ve got some waves, but they’re small and the conditions are touch-and-go. The best bet is to pick your moments carefully.
The first real chance to get wet is Tuesday morning, July 28th, at Depressions. We’re looking at a clean 3 ft swell from the southwest, with a very long period of 17 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, but the wave energy is moderate (565). The wind is light and offshore from the southwest, so the surface will be glassy. The water temp is about average for this time of year. This is a fairly consistent spot, and the optimum swell direction is west-southwest, which lines up nicely. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, so good for the learners. The crowds might show up sometimes, but on a day like this, it’ll be mellow.
Wednesday morning, July 29th, is similar – a smaller 2 ft swell from the southwest, still with a long period of 16 seconds. Winds are light offshore again, making for clean conditions. The wave energy is moderate (499). It’s marginal, but a solid option for a morning paddle.
Thursday morning, July 30th, brings a 2 ft swell from the south-southeast with a period of 14 seconds. Still offshore winds, clean. The swell direction is a bit off the optimum, but it’s still rideable. Energy is moderate (443).
The pattern holds through to Saturday, August 1st, with small, clean swells in the mornings. Afternoons tend to get a bit of a cross-onshore breeze, which messes with the surface. By Sunday, August 2nd, the swell picks up to 4 ft from the west-northwest, but the period drops to 9 seconds – that’s a shorter, weaker windswell. The energy is still moderate (275), but the quality isn’t there.
From Monday, August 3rd, things get pretty grim. The swell drops, the period stays short, and by the afternoon the wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy. The wave energy starts to fall off, and by Wednesday, August 5th, we’re barely scraping 2 ft with a period of 8 seconds. The energy is weak (92). It’s a real dry spell.
We get a small bump on Thursday, August 6th, with a 1.0 ft swell from the southwest, but the period is a long 13 seconds. The energy is very weak (60). It’s not going to be worth the paddle.
The second week, from August 7th onward, is a real struggle. The swell is tiny, mostly 1.0 ft to 2 ft, with periods that are all over the place. A few days have long periods, but the size is just too small. The wind is mostly light, but the swell direction is often off. The wave energy is weak throughout. There’s really nothing to get excited about here. The best of the worst is Sunday, August 9th, with a 1 ft swell from the south-southwest, but again, it’s just not enough.
So, the standout is Tuesday morning, July 28th at Depressions. It’s the biggest, cleanest, and most aligned swell in the whole window. The long period and offshore wind make for a lovely, clean beginner wave. The rest of the week is a poor man’s version of that. The second week is a write-off.
The gap between the last decent session on Saturday, August 1st, and the end of the forecast is a long, quiet stretch of over a week with no real recommendations.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
377 | 358 | 469 | 343 | 206 | 226 | 225 | 195 | 123 | 273 | 229 | 320 | 193 | 215 | 137 | 108 | 211 | 276 | 227 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:53PM2.15m | 10:56AM1.49m | 9:29PM2.17m | 11:22AM1.52m | 10:03PM2.15m | 11:48AM1.56m | 10:37PM2.09m | 12:14PM1.60m | 11:12PM1.97m | 12:40PM1.66m | 11:50PM1.82m | 1:08PM1.72m | 00:33AM1.63m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:18AM0.20m | 3:16PM1.11m | 4:48AM0.19m | 3:54PM1.07m | 5:16AM0.22m | 4:33PM1.04m | 5:43AM0.28m | 5:15PM1.01m | 6:08AM0.38m | 6:01PM0.99m | 6:32AM0.50m | 6:55PM0.95m | |||||||
— | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
8:05 | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 23 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 12 | WNW 8 | S 12 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
377 | 109 | 469 | 181 | 115 | 81 | 116 | 92 | 70 | 125 | 229 | 320 | 193 | 112 | 137 | 108 | 211 | 44 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SW 17 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 15 | SSE 14 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | S 13 | SW 14 | S 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 |
4 | 358 | 109 | 343 | 206 | 226 | 225 | 195 | 123 | 273 | 90 | 48 | 26 | 215 | 47 | 91 | 35 | 16 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSE 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | — | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 18 | WSW 18 |
2 | 98 | 113 | 144 | 178 | 134 | 164 | 156 | 98 | 82 | 82 | — | 33 | 15 | 15 | 29 | 29 | 49 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
117 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | — | — | 87 | 65 | — | 133 | 72 | — | 276 | 227 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 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.










