Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
19.4° C
2.6° 

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


Depressions surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 21s period, SSW 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★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s is also forecast. 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 0.8m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 21st Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 16s
Best Surf 2AM (Sat 25th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 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, Rusty here, lookin’ at the charts for Depressions. Let’s be honest, it’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead. The water’s a toasty 67°, which is way warmer than usual for this time of year – feels more like a bathtub than the ocean.

We’ve got a long run of nothing special on the cards. The first couple of days, Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st of July, show tiny, grovelly 2 ft to 2 ft swells, but the wind is straight onshore. It’s rideable if you’re desperate, but it’s marginal at best, with weak energy. The combined energy is only 308 on Monday, and 369 on Tuesday morning – that’s barely a pulse.

From Tuesday afternoon through the whole of next week, it’s a real slog. The wind swings cross-onshore and stiffens up, especially on Wednesday the 22nd with 19 mph winds from the West. The swell stays small, around 2 ft to 3 ft, and the energy values are in the low to mid 400s – still weak. The wave comment is “poor surf conditions” day after day. It’s not going to be pretty.

We do see a little spike in the swell period. Friday the 24th of July morning shows a 24-second period, which is a seriously long-period groundswell, but it’s only 2 ft. The combined energy jumps to 768 (moderate), but with that tiny height and period that long, it’ll be fat and mushy at a beach break like this. The onshore wind ruins it anyway.

The weekend of the 26th and 27th is a bit more promising. The swell stays around 2 ft to 3 ft, and the period hangs around 18-19 seconds, keeping the energy up in the 580-721 range. The wind is light and onshore, though. You’ll get some clean-ish waves but nothing to write home about. The “marginal” tag is about right.

There’s a small window of better size towards the very end of the run. On Saturday the 1st of August, the swell bumps up to 4 ft from the SSE with a 14-second period and a combined energy of 721. That’s the biggest swell of the window. But the wind on Saturday morning is light onshore, which is fair, but by the afternoon it’s cross-onshore and choppy again. Still, that morning session might be your best bet – a proper waist-to-chest high wave with a bit of push.

The last few days, the 2nd through the 4th of August, the swell drops back down to 2 ft to 3 ft, and the energy fades into the 200s and 400s. It’s back to grovel mode.

So, really, the standout here is the morning of Saturday the 1st of August. The swell is 4 ft from the SSE, period is a decent 14 seconds, and the wind is light onshore. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best wave height and energy combo we’ve got. The rest of the period is mostly small, weak, and wind-affected. For a beginner-friendly spot, this is a lot of flat and choppy days. Bring a longboard and be ready to work for it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the W by Wed afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
1
3
0
0
2
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)
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.7
SW
14
0.8
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSE
14
0.7
SSE
13
1.4
WNW
6
0.6
SSW
24
0.8
S
13
0.6
SSW
21
0.7
SSW
21
0.6
SSW
21
0.8
SSW
19
0.7
SW
19
0.7
SW
18
0.8
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
122
127
186
252
160
218
276
183
201
181
135
368
222
305
404
288
480
384
327
399
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
5
NNW
5
SSW
15
WSW
10
WNW
20
WSW
30
W
10
NW
15
WSW
15
W
5
NW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNE
Wind State
on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
3:39PM1.86m
4:21AM1.26m
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
Low Tide
10:46PM0.83m
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
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
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>
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:08
8:08
8:07
8:07
8:07
8:06
8:05
 mm
Temp °C
26
24
27
27
26
28
29
26
29
32
26
28
29
27
29
31
28
31
32
28
Feels °C
26
24
27
26
24
27
26
24
28
31
24
28
29
27
28
30
26
30
32
27
  • Map Icons:
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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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