Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
20.7° C
3.5° 

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


Depressions surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with 207 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 17s period with SW 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 0.6m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 7th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 17s
Best Surf 2AM (Sun 9th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 8PM (Tue 11th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let me tell you what I’m seeing for the next couple of weeks here at Depressions. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, and honestly, for the first week and a half, we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.

We start off Friday the 7th of August into the weekend with a tiny, messy 1ft to 2ft swell from the southwest. The wind is mostly onshore, and the water is sitting at a very unusual 69°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. But the waves are just poor. There’s a bit of energy in the water, with combined energy readings between 140 and 192, but it’s not translating into anything worth paddling out for.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday the 10th of August. The morning starts glassy with a light breeze, and the swell is still small at 2ft from the SSW, but the period is a very long 14 seconds. The conditions are described as surfable, and the energy jumps up to 253. It’s not going to be pumping, but for a desperate surfer, it’s the best we’ve seen. The glassy conditions will make it clean, but don’t expect much push.

From Tuesday the 11th through Wednesday the 12th, we get a few more glassy windows with the same small 1ft to 2ft SSW swell, but the energy is moderate. The waves are still just ordinary. Then from Thursday the 13th through to Sunday the 16th, the swell starts to build slowly, reaching 3ft by the 15th and 16th. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy, and the combined energy climbs into the 300s and even 400s. The swell period is still long, around 15-16 seconds, which is a classic groundswell, but unfortunately the wind is ruining it. It’s all poor surf conditions.

There’s a bit of a shift on Friday the 21st of August. We see a new swell arrive, this time from the WNW at 3ft, but the period is a short, weak 7 seconds. It’s a windswell, and it’s marginal. The wind is still onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be clean. The energy is moderate at 385. The next day, Saturday the 22nd, the swell is a bit bigger at 4ft to 5ft, but the period is still a miserable 6 to 8 seconds. This is more of a choppy, messy situation. It’s poor surf, and honestly, with the short period and cross-onshore wind, it’s looking more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

The standout, if you can call it that, is Monday the 10th of August. The swell is tiny, but the glassy wind and the long period mean it’s the cleanest we’ll see. It’s a beginner-friendly 2ft from the SSW, and the water is still warm. The crowds are sometimes around, so you might have a few others out. For anything bigger, you’re looking at the end of the second week, but it’s all wind-affected and short period, so it’s more of a promise than a guarantee.

Keep your eyes on the forecasts, because this stretch of poor surf can’t last forever.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
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)
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
S
18
0.4
S
18
0.4
SW
16
0.5
S
16
0.5
SSW
15
0.5
SSW
15
0.6
S
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SW
20
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.4
SSW
17
0.6
SSW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
94
143
98
97
65
125
125
121
153
105
102
96
56
123
152
109
173
125
122
118
154
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
10
WSW
0
NW
10
SW
15
WSW
0
ENE
5
SSW
10
WSW
5
SE
5
SSE
5
SW
0
ENE
5
S
5
SW
5
SE
5
S
10
SW
5
SSE
10
SSE
5
SSW
5
E
Wind State
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
High Tide
5:17PM2.09m
8:21AM1.34m
6:24PM2.20m
9:02AM1.44m
7:24PM2.32m
9:38AM1.53m
8:19PM2.40m
10:12AM1.62m
9:09PM2.41m
10:46AM1.71m
9:58PM2.34m
11:20AM1.78m
10:45PM2.20m
Low Tide
10:00AM1.18m
1:19AM0.30m
11:40AM1.21m
2:11AM0.13m
12:58PM1.16m
2:57AM0.01m
2:01PM1.07m
3:39AM-0.05m
2:57PM0.96m
4:19AM-0.04m
3:49PM0.87m
4:56AM0.04m
4:41PM0.80m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:13
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:54
7:53
7:52
7:52
7:51
7:50
7:49
 mm
Temp °C
25
26
23
26
27
25
28
28
24
27
28
23
27
26
22
25
25
20
23
22
19
Feels °C
26
27
23
26
27
25
29
29
25
29
29
24
28
27
23
26
26
21
24
23
21
  • 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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