Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, SSE swell with 538 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period with SSE 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 (Aug 31) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s 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 1.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 12s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Look, I’ve scanned the charts for the next sixteen days and, well, it’s a quiet one. There’s nothing that gets the heart pumping – in fact, most of the period is a write-off for decent surf. The first solid window of any kind doesn’t really show until the very end of the first week and even then, it’s only marginal. We’re staring down a big gap of about four days with absolutely nothing worth paddling out for, from now right through to Friday the 4th of September.
The only spot on the radar is Depressions. It’s a beginner-friendly break, fairly consistent, and it faces into a WSW swell direction. The first morning that even hints at a ride is Friday the 4th of September. The swell will be a tiny 2.6ft from the SSW, with a long period of 17 seconds – that’s a classic groundswell, packing some energy (439 combined energy) but that long period can make beach breaks close out. Still, the wind is light and straight onshore from the SW, so it’ll be clean. The water is a full 7.7°F warmer than usual, sitting at 71.1°F, which is very unusual for the time of year – a welcome surprise.
The pick of the bunch, and the only morning that gets a slight nod, is Saturday the 5th of September. Same break, Depressions. We’ll see 2.6ft from the SSE, still a long 14-second period, but the combined energy jumps to 526. Wind is light onshore from the SW again. It’s only marginal, and crowds can pop up sometimes, but if you’re a beginner or just want a few cruisy waves, this is your window. Stay away from anything over 4.9ft here – it gets too much.
After that, the surf stays small and mostly choppy for the rest of the run. Sunday the 6th has 3.3ft with a bump in energy (579), but the wind swings cross-onshore. Monday the 7th shows 3.9ft from the SSE (785 combined energy), the biggest of the outlook, but again, cross-onshore breeze spoils the shape. It’s just not coming together. For the rest of the second week, from the 8th onward, the swell drops back to 1.3ft to 2.3ft with poor conditions. Nothing to write home about.
In summary: it’s a long, flat gap, then one or two marginal days around the 4th to 7th of September. Don’t hold your breath. The ocean’s taking a nap.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 11 | SSW 13 | WNW 5 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 13 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 115 | 105 | 74 | 68 | 59 | 79 | 69 | 121 | 154 | 115 | 283 | 246 | 325 | 278 | 291 | 226 | 273 | 400 | 400 | 505 | 443 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 12:07PM1.93m | 00:36AM1.51m | 12:42PM1.96m | 1:45AM1.33m | 1:25PM1.97m | 3:36AM1.21m | 2:24PM1.96m | 6:25AM1.24m | 3:43PM1.97m | 7:35AM1.36m | 5:08PM2.02m | 8:08AM1.47m | 6:21PM2.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:42PM0.65m | 6:08AM0.82m | 7:45PM0.63m | 6:34AM0.97m | 9:06PM0.60m | 7:03AM1.11m | 10:40PM0.53m | 7:59AM1.23m | 00:02AM0.40m | 10:25AM1.29m | 1:04AM0.26m | 12:07PM1.22m | 1:52AM0.16m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | W 6 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 115 | 85 | 74 | 39 | 37 | 33 | 55 | 121 | 71 | 64 | 283 | 246 | 33 | 278 | 291 | 226 | 273 | 400 | 400 | 505 | 443 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 17 | SE 12 | SSE 13 | WNW 7 | SSW 16 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 12 | 105 | 69 | 68 | 44 | 34 | 69 | 68 | 154 | 115 | 19 | 39 | 325 | 36 | 120 | 47 | 212 | 30 | 37 | 24 | 121 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSE 9 | S 8 | W 12 | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | S 19 | SW 13 | SSW 10 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 20 | 6 | 9 | 31 | 31 | 79 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 42 | 27 | 111 | 43 | 20 | 34 | 212 | 30 | 144 | 142 | 104 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 23 | 40 | 40 | 17 | 59 | 37 | 17 | 94 | 83 | 37 | 121 | 64 | 38 | 40 | 85 | 41 | — | 26 | — | — | 104 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.
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