Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 27 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
20.7° C
3.8° 

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


Depressions surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 559 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 28th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 17s
Best Surf 5AM (Tue 28th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 17s
Most Powerful11AM (Mon 27th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here.

Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window for Depressions is a real mixed bag, and honestly, most of it is pretty ordinary. The good news is there’s a tiny window of clean, glassy conditions, but you’ve got to be patient and pick your moments. The overall pattern is small, long-period groundswell with mostly onshore or cross-onshore breezes, keeping the quality way down. The water is a wild 69°F – that’s a massive 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so you can leave the 5/4 at home.

We kick off on Monday, 27 July, with a 3ft SSW swell packing some serious grunt – the combined energy is a solid 734 (moderate wave energy). The period is a very long 18 seconds, so it’s proper groundswell. But the wind is light and onshore, making it messy. The beach breaks will be too straight for that long period, so you’d want a point or reef, but Depressions is a beach. Not great.

Tuesday, 28 July, is much the same – 3ft to 3ft SW/SSW swell, with a 17-second period. The energy is still there (568 to 683), but the wind stays onshore. It’s poor surf, plain and simple.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Thursday, 30 July morning is your best bet. The swell drops to 2ft from the SSE, with a period of 14 seconds – still a decent groundswell. The combined energy is 492 (moderate wave energy). But the killer detail is the wind: it’s glassy. Dead calm. That’s going to make for the cleanest, smoothest surf of the whole run. It’s the one standout. The waves will be small, but for a beginner-friendly break like Depressions, that’s perfect. Crowds are possible, so get in early.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a write-off. Friday, 31 July, through Sunday, 2 August, sees small, weak swell and onshore wind. The swell direction shifts to S and then WNW, with periods dropping to 9-13 seconds, and the energy fades to 296-466. Everything is marginal or poor.

From Monday, 3 August, onwards, it gets even smaller. Swell heights drop to 1ft to 2ft, with combined energy falling below 100 (weak wave energy) on many days. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the surf is basically non-existent. There’s a brief moment on Thursday, 6 August, with a glassy morning and a 1ft 21-second period swell, but the energy is just 136 – it’s barely surfable, and the conditions are described as “very ordinary.” Not worth paddling out for.

So, to sum it up: the only real window worth paddling out for is Thursday, 30 July morning. Get there for the glass, the small clean lines, and the warm water. After that, we’re looking at a gap of at least a week of flat, poor conditions. It’s a tough run, but that one morning could be a gem.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
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
1
2
0
2
2
1
1
2
2
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
19
0.8
SSW
17
0.8
SW
17
0.9
SSW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SSE
14
0.8
SSE
15
0.7
SSE
15
0.7
SSE
14
0.5
SSW
15
0.8
SSE
15
0.9
SSE
13
0.9
S
13
0.8
S
13
0.8
S
13
0.7
S
12
1.3
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
559
325
377
358
469
274
206
246
222
210
123
284
290
259
209
206
132
202
216
216
211
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
10
WSW
5
N
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NE
5
SW
10
WSW
5
ESE
5
S
10
WSW
0
E
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
0
NE
10
SW
10
SW
5
ESE
Wind State
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
High Tide
10:30AM1.46m
8:53PM2.15m
10:56AM1.49m
9:29PM2.17m
11:22AM1.52m
10:03PM2.15m
11:48AM1.56m
10:37PM2.09m
12:14PM1.60m
11:12PM1.97m
12:40PM1.66m
11:50PM1.82m
1:08PM1.72m
00:33AM1.63m
Low Tide
2:39PM1.15m
4:18AM0.20m
3:16PM1.11m
4:48AM0.19m
3:54PM1.07m
5:16AM0.22m
4:33PM1.04m
5:43AM0.28m
5:15PM1.01m
6:08AM0.38m
6:01PM0.99m
6:32AM0.50m
6:55PM0.95m
clear
clear
clear
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>
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:05
8:04
8:02
8:01
8:01
8:00
8:00
 mm
Temp °C
27
29
25
27
27
25
27
27
23
26
27
25
28
28
27
30
32
28
29
29
24
Feels °C
26
29
24
26
26
24
28
27
24
27
28
26
28
28
27
29
32
27
28
29
25
  • 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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