Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
21.0° C
4.1° 

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


Depressions surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSW swell with 584 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Depressions in the next 16 days are 0.8m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 24th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 7s
Best Surf 5AM (Sat 25th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 21s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 25th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 21s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way at Depressions over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s not looking like a classic run. The surf is small and a bit messy for the first week, and then it really drops off. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions from the end of July right through the first week of August, so don’t hold your breath for any hero sessions.

We’re starting on Friday, the 24th of July. The swell is tiny at 2 ft from the SSW, but the period is a whopping 24 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, which usually means deep-water energy and good shape, but it’s so small. The combined energy is moderate, sitting at 653. The wind is a light offshore from the SW at 6 mph, which would keep things clean. It’s marginal, but those early morning windows might offer a little something if you’re desperate for a paddle. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Saturday the 25th is more of the same – 2 ft SSW swell, still with that long period of 21 seconds. Wind is still light offshore, but the forecast calls it poor surf conditions. Just not enough push to make it work.

Sunday the 26th, the swell hangs around 2 ft from the SW, period dropping to 18-19 seconds. The wind swings to a light cross-onshore in the afternoon, which will put a bit of a wrinkle on the surface. Still marginal.

The pattern continues through the 28th with tiny 3 ft swell and those long periods. The energy is moderate (around 700-750), but the size just isn’t there for a proper ride. Winds are light offshore, so it’s clean, just small.

Then on Wednesday the 29th, the swell drops further to 2 ft, still from the SW, period down to 16 seconds. The wind goes light cross-onshore again. Not much to write home about.

Thursday the 30th sees a slight bump to 3 ft from the SSE, with a 14-second period. The wind turns light offshore in the afternoon, which is a positive. The energy is still moderate (602). But it’s still a marginal call.

Now, Friday the 31st of July through to the 1st of August, the swell picks up a bit to 4-4 ft from the S, but the period is shortening to 14 seconds. Winds are light offshore, but the forecast is calling it poor surf conditions. The energy is moderate (500-680). It’s just not coming together.

Then we hit a real dry spell. From Sunday the 2nd of August onward, the swell turns tiny and the period plummets – we’re talking 5 ft on Sunday afternoon but with a 6-second period, which is just wind slop. The energy drops to a weak 311. By Monday the 3rd, the swell is 3 ft and the energy is barely 183. This continues right through to the 8th of August, with swell heights under 3 ft and periods under 10 seconds. The energy is weak, often under 200. The wind is light offshore, which is a tease, but there’s just no wave to ride.

There is a slight glimmer on Wednesday the 5th of August. The afternoon shows a 4 ft WNW swell, period of 6 seconds, but the wind is glassy. The conditions are described as surfable but very ordinary. The energy is a weak 148. For a brief moment, it might be rideable, but you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.

So, the honest truth? There’s no standout session here. The best on offer is probably the first few days, like Friday the 24th or Saturday the 25th, just for the novelty of that long-period groundswell and clean offshore winds, but the size is tiny. The combined energy of all swells directed here stays moderate (in the 600-700 range) for the first week, but it’s never strong enough to give you a real wave. After that, it’s a long gap of poor, weak surf until the 5th of August, which is only a brief, ordinary window.

Hang in there, but don’t get your hopes up. This is a quiet patch for the area.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
0
1
3
1
0
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
WNW
6
0.6
SSW
24
0.4
SW
24
0.7
SW
21
0.7
SSW
21
0.6
SSW
21
0.9
SW
19
0.7
SW
19
0.7
SW
18
0.8
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
19
0.8
SSW
17
0.8
SW
17
0.8
SSW
17
1.4
WNW
10
0.6
SW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.8
SSE
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
183
368
141
467
404
288
546
384
327
399
559
325
377
358
377
334
206
223
275
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SSW
10
W
5
NNE
10
SW
10
SW
5
E
10
SW
10
SW
5
NE
5
S
5
SW
10
ESE
Wind State
cross
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-off
High Tide
9:02AM1.34m
6:53PM1.97m
9:37AM1.39m
7:36PM2.03m
10:04AM1.43m
8:16PM2.10m
10:30AM1.46m
8:53PM2.15m
10:56AM1.49m
9:29PM2.17m
11:22AM1.52m
10:03PM2.15m
Low Tide
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
3:16PM1.11m
4:48AM0.19m
3:54PM1.07m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:07
8:07
8:06
8:05
8:05
8:04
8:02
 mm
Temp °C
25
28
28
26
28
29
26
28
31
27
28
28
25
28
29
26
28
28
24
Feels °C
24
28
28
26
27
29
25
28
30
26
27
27
24
27
29
26
29
29
25
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  • 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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