
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s period, SSW swell with 480 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s 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 0.8m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 2AM. 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 23rd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cookin’ at Depressions over the next couple of weeks.
Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – the next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and mostly a quiet one. We’ve got a long stretch of average to poor conditions to wade through before we see a couple of short windows that look worth paddling out for. The water is sitting at a very warm 69°F which is about 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a real standout and feels like a tropical bath.
The first real chance to wet a line comes on Monday, July 27th. The morning is still a bit iffy, but by Monday afternoon the wind drops to a glassy 3 mph from the south. The swell is a clean 2 ft pushing from the SSW with a solid 19-second period. That’s a proper long-period groundswell with a combined energy of 606 (moderate). It’s a small wave, but glassy and clean. This is one of the two true standouts in the whole window.
Then we go quiet again. The next morning, Tuesday July 28th, has some potential with a 2 ft SW swell and good wind, but it’s marked as marginal. The real next highlight doesn’t arrive until Thursday, July 30th. Thursday morning is another beauty – the wind is glassy again from the south at 3 mph, with a 2 ft SSE swell and a 14-second period. The combined energy sits at 500 (moderate). It’s small, but it’s clean and glassy. That’s your best bet for a fun, uncrowded session.
After that, conditions turn choppy and onshore again. A couple of days around August 1st see a bump in size to 4 ft from the south, but the wind is a messy cross-onshore, so it’s not worth it. The long-range stuff from August 3rd onwards drops off in quality, with short-period windswell and poor conditions. There’s nothing else worth chasing.
So, to sum it up: if you’ve got a longboard or a fish, Monday July 27th afternoon and Thursday July 30th morning are your windows. The rest of the time, you’re better off waiting for the next proper swell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 6 | SSE 13 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | SSW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
186 | 249 | 160 | 218 | 276 | 186 | 137 | 188 | 195 | 368 | 165 | 368 | 404 | 288 | 480 | 384 | 327 | 319 | 408 | 325 | 373 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 4:27PM1.87m | 6:26AM1.22m | 5:17PM1.89m | 8:06AM1.27m | 6:06PM1.92m | 9:02AM1.34m | 6:53PM1.97m | 9:37AM1.39m | 7:36PM2.03m | 10:04AM1.43m | 8:16PM2.10m | 10:30AM1.46m | 8:53PM2.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:19AM0.96m | 00:07AM0.71m | 10:07AM1.11m | 1:11AM0.58m | 11:12AM1.20m | 1:59AM0.47m | 12:20PM1.24m | 2:39AM0.37m | 1:15PM1.23m | 3:14AM0.29m | 2:00PM1.20m | 3:47AM0.23m | 2:39PM1.15m | 4:18AM0.20m | |||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 23 | 29 | 31 | 24 | 30 | 32 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 23 | 28 | 28 | 20 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 13 | S 13 | S 12 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 |
186 | 249 | 75 | 218 | 276 | 183 | 137 | 117 | 106 | 118 | 94 | 114 | 112 | 79 | 480 | 107 | 83 | 319 | 193 | 154 | 227 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 21 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 |
73 | 142 | 160 | 41 | 19 | 115 | 107 | 69 | 68 | 176 | 165 | 141 | 404 | 108 | 150 | 384 | 327 | 33 | 408 | 325 | 373 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | WNW 13 | S 15 | WNW 13 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 26 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | S 11 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 12 |
125 | 34 | 112 | 16 | 15 | 58 | 13 | 105 | 65 | 368 | 141 | 368 | 64 | 288 | 388 | 111 | 85 | 69 | 51 | 127 | 22 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 2 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 |
— | 1 | 10 | 35 | 156 | 186 | 98 | 188 | 195 | — | — | — | — | — | 72 | — | — | 69 | — | — | 94 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 224 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 25 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 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.










