Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with 286 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m 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 1.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Depressions, and honestly, there’s almost nothing to get excited about for the next couple of weeks. We’re in for a long, flat stretch. The first decent-looking window doesn’t even show up until late in the first week, and even then it’s pretty marginal.
The whole 16-day run is a bit of a write-off. You’ll see a few pulses of energy, but the quality just isn’t there. The swell direction is mostly coming from the SW and SSW, which isn’t ideal for this spot that prefers a WSW direction. Winds are a constant problem too – mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping things bumpy.
Let’s break it down day by day.
Monday 24 August through to Wednesday 26 August is a total bust. Tiny swell, poor conditions, and onshore wind. Not worth paddling out.
Thursday 27 August – Marginal improvement in the morning. We’ve got 2 ft of S swell at 11 seconds, but it’s coming with an onshore wind. Combined energy is only 287 (moderate). Not great.
Friday 28 August – The afternoon might be the best we see all week. The swell jumps to 3 ft from the WNW with an 8-second period, and the wind goes near glassy at 3 mph from the SW, right onshore. Combined energy is 286 (moderate). It’s still a beach break, and with that short period it won’t have much shape, but at least it’ll be clean. Call it a last-resort session if you’re desperate.
Saturday 29 August – Nope. Saturday gets messy with a 6 ft WNW windswell and onshore wind. Choppy as hell. Combined energy is 535 (moderate).
Sunday 30 August – Morning offers 5 ft from the WNW with 8 seconds and light onshore wind. Combined energy is 547 (moderate). Better than the day before, but that onshore wind will still put a chop on it. Only for the committed.
Monday 31 August – Back to tiny. 2 ft in the morning, then a jump to 5 ft in the afternoon from the WNW with a 6-second period, which is just windswell slop.
From Tuesday 1 September to Monday 7 September, it’s a parade of poor surf conditions. The swell height never really gets above 3 ft until the last day, and the wind is almost always onshore. There are a couple of mornings with light breezes and a 2 ft swell, but the wave comments all say “poor surf conditions.” Combined energy mostly sits in the 300s (moderate), but it’s just not translating into rideable waves.
Sunday 6 September morning is worth a mention: 2 ft from the SSW at 15 seconds with a slight air from the S. That long period won't help at a beach break like this – it'll likely break too straight – but combined energy is 461 (moderate).
Tuesday 8 September – The last day in the window. 3 ft from the S with a 9-second period and onshore wind. Same story.
Honestly, this is one of those stretches where there’s no standout day. The best I can do is point you to Friday 28 August afternoon – it’s the only time the wind goes near glassy and the swell is over 3 ft. But even that’s a stretch. If you’re a beginner, the swell never gets above 5 ft, so you’re not in danger, but the conditions are so poor it’s not worth your time. For experienced surfers, there’s nothing that gets over 8 ft to challenge you. This spot might be more interesting for kite surfing on the bigger, windier days.
Keep an eye on the charts – it tends not to stay this flat for long. But for now, I’d save the energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | S 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
112 | 109 | 98 | 135 | 130 | 91 | 89 | 140 | 147 | 137 | 121 | 106 | 125 | 92 | 140 | 246 | 197 | 222 | 175 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:31AM1.49m | 7:57PM2.04m | 9:50AM1.54m | 8:34PM2.09m | 10:09AM1.59m | 9:10PM2.11m | 10:30AM1.66m | 9:45PM2.07m | 10:51AM1.73m | 10:22PM1.99m | 11:14AM1.81m | 11:01PM1.86m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:46AM0.33m | 1:52PM1.16m | 3:15AM0.27m | 2:29PM1.07m | 3:42AM0.25m | 3:05PM0.98m | 4:07AM0.27m | 3:43PM0.89m | 4:32AM0.32m | 4:22PM0.81m | 4:56AM0.41m | 5:03PM0.74m | |||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 33 | 26 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | W 5 | SW 17 | SW 17 | WNW 5 | S 13 | SSE 12 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 9 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
112 | 11 | 98 | 135 | 20 | 55 | 83 | 55 | 69 | 27 | 92 | 83 | 125 | 92 | 44 | 246 | 197 | 171 | 166 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | W 10 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
65 | 109 | 28 | 55 | 130 | 91 | 89 | 140 | 147 | 137 | 121 | 106 | 82 | 68 | 33 | 152 | 91 | 127 | 124 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | SSE 10 | S 13 | SSE 10 | W 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | SW 16 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 |
38 | 37 | 36 | 10 | 54 | 10 | 40 | 122 | 85 | 48 | 74 | 73 | 65 | 33 | 69 | 27 | 30 | 15 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | W 4 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
31 | 12 | 14 | 35 | — | 35 | 78 | 46 | 73 | 32 | — | — | — | — | 140 | 148 | 197 | 222 | 175 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 76 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











