Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Issued: 4 pm 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
17.6° C

1.7°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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


Depressions surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, WNW swell with 388 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s 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 Friday (Jul 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) 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 0.3m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 3rd Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 16s
Best Surf 5AM (Wed 8th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 18s
Most Powerful 8PM (Wed 8th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 9s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna level with you—this stretch ahead for Depressions is a real quiet one. We’ve got a long, drawn-out run of tiny to small swell and mostly ordinary conditions. The water’s sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re sitting there waiting.

The first real mention of anything ridable is Saturday morning, July 4th. We’ve got a 2ft SSW groundswell, a long 14-second period, and a glassy S wind. That’s a clean window with combined swell energy of 239 (moderate). It’s surfable but very ordinary—tiny waves, long lulls between sets. That long period will make it bend around the point or reef if you’ve got one, but for a beachbreak, it’ll be pretty straight. Crowds are possible on a Saturday morning.

Sunday morning the 5th is onshore again, and the rest of the first week stays below 3ft with cross-on winds ruining any real quality. Monday and Tuesday afternoons get a bit of a pulse in the combined energy, pushing up to 444 and 584 (moderate), but the swell stays 2–3ft and the wind’s cross-on, so it’s messy.

From Wednesday July 8th into the second week, we finally see a change. The swell bumps up a notch—4ft on Wednesday afternoon, 4ft Thursday morning—but it’s short-period WNW windswell at 9–10 seconds. Combined energy is strong, 554 and 499, but the quality’s poor. A few of those morning sessions have offshore SW wind, giving you clean faces, but the waves are soft and junky. Best of a bad bunch would be Wednesday morning July 8th with 3ft and light offshore, or Thursday morning July 9th with 4ft and glassy offshore. The 4ft is borderline for beginners but fine for most.

Later in the second week, around July 15th–18th, we see combined energy jump back into the 400–550 range, with a 4ft WNW windswell on Thursday July 16th afternoon and again Saturday July 18th morning. Periods are short, 7–9 seconds, so it’s weak and choppy, and the wind is light offshore or cross-offshore on some mornings, keeping it clean-ish but still marginal. The best of those later days might be Saturday morning July 18th with 4ft and offshore SW wind—still only a 1/10 kind of day, but the cleanest of that run.

Honestly, nothing here is a standout. The whole 16-day window is a struggle. The few mornings with clean wind and small swell are only “surfable but very ordinary.” There are long gaps of several days where the recommendation is zero. If you’re desperate, aim for July 4th Saturday morning for the glassy 2ft, or July 9th Thursday morning for the 4ft clean waves. But don’t expect much.

Keep your expectations low, and the board waxed.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
2
1
1
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
16
0.4
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
20
0.7
SW
18
0.8
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
16
1.3
WNW
9
1.4
WNW
10
1.1
WNW
10
0.6
SSW
16
1
WNW
9
0.9
WNW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
121
79
120
125
82
176
121
145
171
171
298
319
356
276
339
254
343
235
181
185
149
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
5
NE
5
S
10
SW
5
SSE
5
SW
15
WSW
5
NNW
10
WSW
15
W
10
NW
10
WSW
15
W
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SW
10
WSW
10
ESE
10
SE
Wind State
on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
cross-off
cross
High Tide
00:03AM1.88m
2:21PM1.56m
00:44AM1.72m
2:54PM1.63m
1:36AM1.55m
3:28PM1.73m
2:52AM1.37m
4:07PM1.84m
4:39AM1.25m
4:52PM1.97m
6:32AM1.23m
5:42PM2.10m
8:00AM1.30m
Low Tide
6:11PM1.21m
7:24AM0.42m
7:10PM1.20m
7:53AM0.53m
8:24PM1.15m
8:23AM0.65m
9:50PM1.04m
8:57AM0.78m
11:15PM0.85m
9:41AM0.91m
00:27AM0.62m
10:37AM1.03m
1:26AM0.38m
11:44AM1.10m
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
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>
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:14
8:14
8:14
8:14
 mm
Temp °C
21
18
22
24
21
23
23
22
23
27
23
26
29
24
27
29
25
26
26
23
24
Feels °C
21
17
22
22
20
23
22
21
22
25
21
25
27
22
26
28
24
25
26
24
24
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
16
0.5
W
7
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
W
4
0.5
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.9
WNW
8
0.8
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
18
1.1
WNW
9
0.7
SSW
16
1.4
WNW
10
1.1
WNW
10
1
WNW
9
1
WNW
9
0.9
WNW
9
Energy kJ
121
28
120
120
8
176
121
145
171
171
223
105
356
276
211
232
343
235
181
185
149
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
16
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
S
17
0.4
SSW
21
0.4
SSW
20
0.6
SSW
20
0.7
SW
18
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.8
SSW
16
0.3
S
19
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
Energy kJ
45
79
26
125
82
58
58
86
153
154
298
319
84
54
339
66
175
173
169
121
118
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
11
0.2
S
15
0.3
SSW
19
0.2
WNW
9
0.3
S
9
0.4
W
4
0.3
S
9
0.3
SSW
22
0.3
SSW
12
0.3
SSW
12
0.4
NW
12
0.4
WNW
10
0.2
WNW
12
0.1
S
10
0.3
S
19
0.1
S
9
0.4
S
17
0.4
S
17
0.4
S
16
0.4
S
16
0.4
S
15
Energy kJ
9
18
74
8
15
6
14
91
28
28
37
41
13
2
66
2
92
91
82
80
72
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
W
8
0.5
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
8
0.4
W
4
0.5
WNW
4
0.7
W
4
0.9
WNW
5
0.8
WNW
5
1.3
WNW
5
1.3
WNW
6
1.4
WNW
6
1.5
WNW
6
1.3
WNW
9
0.2
ESE
2
Energy kJ
29
35
19
5
8
17
37
35
91
108
131
181
254
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
Distance (km)
1
0
0
1
0
10
1
0
1
17
1
1
1
0
35
1
0
54
1
0
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
3
2
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
5
5
9
7
7
5
8
7
5
6
9
8
9
8
5
5
5
4
9
  • 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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