Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SSW swell with 344 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m 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 0.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. I’ll be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are a total dud for paddle surfing. There are no good options in the 16‑day window. The only break on the list is Depressions, a beginner spot that’s fairly consistent and fairly exposed, but every single forecast is poor or marginal.
Right now the combined swell energy sits at moderate 527, but the water’s much warmer than normal at 71°, and that anomaly of 4° is very unusual for this time of year. A 2ft SSW groundswell from a 17‑second period is on the way, but a light cross‑onshore breeze makes it messy. Saturday afternoon is similar – 2ft from the SW, 16 seconds – but the wind picks up to a moderate breeze, turning it choppy.
Sunday the 30th brings a 3ft SSW swell with 15‑second period under a light cross‑onshore, still poor. Energy drops from 529 to 390 in the afternoon as the wind strengthens from the west. Monday the 31st is tiny – 2ft and 2ft SSW, onshore wind, energy down to 193 – no good.
Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd of September are more of the same: tiny waves, onshore or cross‑onshore wind, energy under 300. Thursday 3rd gets a brief bump in energy (357 morning, 436 afternoon) from a 3ft SSW 12‑second swell, but moderate cross‑onshore wind ruins it. Friday 4th shows 2ft SSW groundswell at 16 seconds, 465 energy, and the comment says “marginal” – but with a light onshore and a score of just 1 out of 10, it’s not worth it.
The weekend of the 5th–6th is flat with 2ft swells, light wind, decent period, but still “poor” or “marginal” quality. Energy stays in the 400s. Monday 7th is similar – 2–3ft SSE swells, 13–14 seconds, light wind – still only a 1 out of 10.
Then Tuesday 8th September offers the biggest swell of the run: 4ft from the south at 13 seconds, with energy of 670 in the morning and 618 in the afternoon. Winds are light cross‑onshore. But the guidance calls it “marginal” with a score of just 2 out of 10. For a beginner spot, 4ft is rideable, but it won’t be clean. I wouldn’t get excited.
After that, Wednesday 9th through Friday 11th drops back to tiny junk – 1 to 2ft swells, moderate wind, energy under 250. The last weekend, 12th–13th September, is flat with 2–3ft W/NW swells, period down to 9 seconds, energy moderate at 459 – still only a 1 out of 10.
So there you go – a long, quiet stretch. No standout days, no clean surf. The consistent breaks here just don’t have the juice. Keep an eye on updates, but for now, leave the board in the shed.
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 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Tue 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 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
302 | 309 | 255 | 314 | 218 | 183 | 136 | 107 | 78 | 68 | 59 | 82 | 84 | 156 | 150 | 154 | 188 | 204 | 325 | 310 | 291 | |
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 | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | 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 | 29 | 31 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 21 |
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 11 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
302 | 261 | 255 | 314 | 218 | 183 | 136 | 86 | 78 | 61 | 59 | 82 | 84 | 156 | 139 | 99 | 188 | 113 | 325 | 310 | 291 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 13 | SSE 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | S 10 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | WNW 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 |
91 | 127 | 124 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 20 | 107 | 69 | 68 | 44 | 79 | 30 | 67 | 150 | 154 | 50 | 204 | 26 | 147 | 45 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | S 9 | S 9 | W 20 | W 12 | W 11 | SSE 12 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | — | W 12 | SSW 21 | SW 15 | S 19 | SSW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 7 | 69 | — | 11 | 42 | 109 | 111 | 69 | 22 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 |
114 | 309 | 181 | 238 | 188 | 73 | 32 | 40 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 33 | 18 | 37 | 59 | 33 | 131 | 51 | 31 | 34 | 56 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 306 | 310 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1367 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











