Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
21.5°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 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with 326 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s 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 0.9m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 8AM. 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+) 5AM (Sat 29th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 17s
Best Surf 5AM (Sat 29th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 17s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sun 30th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. I’ve had a good look at what’s heading our way, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead for Depressions. We’re not looking at any proper standouts here, just a long run of small, messy conditions. The water’s sitting at a balmy 71°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a weird one, about 7°F above average. Feels more like a bath than the usual late-winter chill.

The pattern kicks off on Friday, August 28 with a tiny 1ft south swell, long period at 19 seconds, but the cross-on wind from the west at 6 mph is just enough to mess up what little energy there is. Combined energy is weak at 315, and the waves are basically unrideable. That afternoon gets worse – a 3ft windswell from the WNW with only 8 seconds of period and the same cross-on breeze. Poor stuff.

Saturday, August 29, starts with a 2ft SW swell, longer period at 17 seconds, but again that cross-on WSW wind kills it. The combined energy jumps to 567 – moderate – but the waves are still a mess. By afternoon, wind picks up to 16 mph from the WNW, whipping up a choppy 6ft windswell with a period of just 6 seconds. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. Maybe kite-surfing material, but not for paddling.

Sunday the 30th through to the end of the first week is more of the same. We get some long-period SSW groundswell – 15 to 17 seconds – but heights stay below 3ft, and the cross-on wind never really lets up. The combined energy fluctuates between 235 and 518, so there’s some push in the water, but it’s all junked up. The swell direction is from the SSW, which isn’t bad for Depressions, but the wind angle is just off enough to ruin it. Every session is marked as “poor surf conditions” – no good.

Into the second week, things don’t improve. From Monday, September 7, through to Saturday, September 12, we’re stuck with tiny waves – 1ft to 3ft – mostly from the SSW or S. There are a couple of mornings with offshore wind from the SW or SSW at 6 mph, which would normally clean things up, but the swell is just too small. Combined energy hits 516 on Saturday morning, September 12, with a 3ft south swell at 13 seconds – that’s the best we’ve got, but it’s still a marginal call. Crowds at Depressions can pop up sometimes, but honestly, with this quality, you’ll likely have it to yourself.

Bottom line: there’s no day in this 16-day window that I’d call a standout. The best bet is probably the morning of Saturday, September 12, if you’re desperate for a paddle – light offshore wind, chest-high-ish south swell – but keep expectations low. This is one of those stretches where the ocean just isn’t cooperating. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
S
19
0.9
WNW
8
0.7
SW
18
0.7
SW
17
1.9
WNW
6
0.7
SW
16
0.9
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SSE
12
0.5
SSE
12
0.5
S
11
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SW
18
0.5
S
13
0.4
SW
16
0.7
S
13
0.7
S
12
0.6
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
117
110
312
302
272
255
314
218
183
136
85
78
68
68
79
82
68
156
148
218
173
Wind (km/h)
10
W
10
W
10
NW
10
WSW
25
WNW
15
NW
10
WSW
15
W
10
NW
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
NNE
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
15
WSW
5
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
10:51AM1.73m
10:22PM1.99m
11:14AM1.81m
11:01PM1.86m
11:39AM1.87m
11:45PM1.70m
12:07PM1.93m
00:36AM1.51m
12:42PM1.96m
1:45AM1.33m
1:25PM1.97m
3:36AM1.21m
2:24PM1.96m
Low Tide
4:22PM0.81m
4:56AM0.41m
5:03PM0.74m
5:19AM0.53m
5:49PM0.69m
5:43AM0.68m
6:42PM0.65m
6:08AM0.82m
7:45PM0.63m
6:34AM0.97m
9:06PM0.60m
7:03AM1.11m
10:40PM0.53m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
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>
6:28
6:30
6:30
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:30
7:29
7:28
7:27
7:24
7:23
7:22
 mm
Temp °C
33
33
29
29
31
25
26
27
22
24
24
20
23
25
20
25
26
22
25
25
22
Feels °C
33
33
27
28
30
21
24
25
19
24
23
20
22
24
18
22
24
20
23
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)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Depressions:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Depressions surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest