Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 417 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (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 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. 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 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s break this down for Depressions.
Honestly, the first week and a half is a total dud. From now through the first few days of September, the surf is small, weak, and the wind is junk – mostly cross-onshore or straight onshore. Swell is under 3 ft, and the wave energy is low to moderate, with readings between 149 and 675. It’s not worth getting wet.
Things start to look up around Monday the 7th of September. Monday morning goes glassy with a light south wind at 3 mph, and a small 2 ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period. Energy hits 464. It’s small but clean – good for a log. Monday afternoon gets even better: cross-offshore NNW wind at 9 mph, swell up to 3 ft from the SSE at 14 seconds, and energy at 575. Clean lines for the first time.
The real standout is Tuesday the 8th of September. Tuesday morning delivers a solid 8 ft SSW swell with a 12-second period and strong energy of 1756. That’s big, for experienced surfers only. The wind is light cross-shore from the NW at 6 mph. But the best session is Tuesday afternoon: offshore NE wind at 3 mph, swell drops to a more manageable 6 ft from the S at 10 seconds, and energy at 719. Clean, offshore, solid waves. That’s the pick of the entire forecast.
Depressions is a beginner-friendly spot, fairly consistent, and exposed to WSW swell. Water temp is about average for this time of year. Crowds can show up sometimes, so expect a few heads out for that Tuesday afternoon session.
After that, it falls apart again. Wednesday the 9th onward is back to small, choppy, and onshore junk. Not worth chasing.
If you’ve got one session to aim for, make it Tuesday the 8th of September in the afternoon. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 302 | 261 | 255 | 314 | 218 | 183 | 134 | 107 | 79 | 68 | 91 | 141 | 178 | 85 | 212 | 198 | 237 | 200 | 181 | 184 | 226 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:25AM1.24m | 3:43PM1.97m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:59AM1.23m | 00:02AM0.40m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 18 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 302 | 261 | 255 | 314 | 218 | 183 | 134 | 86 | 79 | 62 | 91 | 141 | 178 | 84 | 212 | 198 | 139 | 192 | 172 | 161 | 226 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 13 | WNW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 91 | 127 | 124 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 10 | 107 | 69 | 9 | 49 | 80 | 69 | 85 | 150 | 124 | 237 | 200 | 181 | 184 | 84 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | S 9 | S 9 | W 20 | W 12 | W 11 | SSE 10 | W 10 | WNW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 9 | W 10 | SW 16 | W 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 |
| kJ | 17 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 68 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 68 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 33 | 59 | 46 | 44 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | 117 | 237 | 187 | 206 | 167 | 73 | 29 | 38 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 24 | 39 | 25 | 51 | 74 | 53 | 90 | 40 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 82 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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