
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period, SSW swell with 608 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 17s period with WNW 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Depressions in the next 16 days are 1.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11AM. 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+) | 8PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ at Depressions.
Right off the bat, I gotta tell ya, it’s a tough stretch. The next 16 days are looking pretty flat and underwhelming. We’ve got a big gap of nothing much happening from now through the first week, with only tiny, weak waves and poor surf conditions. The water is way warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 66° with a 4° anomaly, which is notable.
The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for shows up on the morning of the 21st. The swell builds a little to 5ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and the combined energy hits 729 (moderate). The wind is cross from the SE at 9 mph, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the best looking window in the first week. Still, it’s more of a “maybe” than a “go”.
The real standout, and I mean the only one that gets my heart pumping a bit, is the morning of the 25th. We’ve got a clean 2ft SSW swell with a long 21-second period, and the combined energy is 760 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the WSW at 6 mph, glassy conditions. That’s the kind of setup that could make Depressions peel nicely. But remember, this is a week and a half away, so don’t book the day off just yet.
After that, it’s back to the same old story: small, weak, and onshore. The 27th and 28th mornings show a little push with 3ft SSW swell and 18-second period, but the wind is still onshore, and the energy is moderate at best. Not enough to get excited about. The rest of the month into early August is a washout – tiny waves, poor conditions, and frankly, not worth the drive.
Depressions is a fairly consistent spot, but this run is a long, flat spell. It’s one of those times where the forecast might change, but for now, it’s a hard pass for most days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 7 | SW 26 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
104 | 97 | 96 | 194 | 159 | 142 | 238 | 238 | 187 | 331 | 342 | 324 | 608 | 275 | 150 | 218 | 227 | 212 | 104 | 118 | 126 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:27PM1.75m | 00:38AM1.94m | 2:10PM1.80m | 1:34AM1.67m | 2:53PM1.83m | 2:44AM1.43m | 3:39PM1.86m | 4:21AM1.26m | 4:27PM1.87m | 6:26AM1.22m | 5:17PM1.89m | 8:06AM1.27m | 6:06PM1.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:48PM0.96m | 7:27AM0.35m | 7:58PM0.95m | 8:04AM0.57m | 9:18PM0.91m | 8:40AM0.77m | 10:46PM0.83m | 9:19AM0.96m | 00:07AM0.71m | 10:07AM1.11m | 1:11AM0.58m | 11:12AM1.20m | 1:59AM0.47m | ||||||||
5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 21 | 28 | 31 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 30 | 30 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 5 | SW 17 | SSE 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSE 14 | S 13 |
94 | 90 | 62 | 44 | 26 | 12 | 238 | 152 | 187 | 331 | 342 | 324 | 608 | 275 | 113 | 218 | 215 | 180 | 89 | 118 | 126 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | SW 18 | WNW 16 | WNW 16 | S 11 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | S 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 7 | S 8 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
104 | 97 | 96 | 194 | 144 | 142 | 64 | 238 | 166 | 124 | 124 | 318 | 86 | 252 | 150 | 27 | 10 | 67 | 104 | 70 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | WNW 16 | SW 18 | SSE 11 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | S 16 | S 8 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SW 26 | SSW 26 |
54 | 54 | 77 | 146 | 159 | 39 | 135 | 91 | 73 | 69 | 69 | 40 | 35 | 34 | 77 | 12 | 15 | 58 | 71 | 105 | 66 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WNW 2 | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | W 5 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 6 | WNW 6 |
— | — | — | — | 1 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 64 | 227 | 212 | 91 | 84 | 90 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 55 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 76 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 1 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.










