
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSE swell with 620 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Depressions in the next 16 days are 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 15s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Depressions over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it's a lean run. We’re looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions before a potential little window of something worthwhile later on.
We kick off on Sunday, July 12th, with a small pulse of 2ft SSW groundswell, with a period of 14 seconds. The morning is looking glassy with light S winds at 3 mph, so it'll be clean, but the energy is weak at 215. It's surfable, but nothing to get excited about. The afternoon turns onshore and messy, and that sets the tone for the next week or more. From Monday, July 13th, right through to Friday, July 24th, it's a real battle. Winds are mostly onshore or cross-on, and the surf quality is poor. We get some pulses of swell, but the wind just kills it. There’s a few days in there with some moderate energy (346 and 366), but the direction is WNW and the period is short and choppy. Not worth the paddle. Even the bigger energy days later on, like the 24th with a 24-second period swell, are let down by poor conditions.
Now, the first real standout happens on Saturday, July 25th. A nice SSW groundswell rolls in with a 21-second period and a solid combined energy of 505. The morning looks clean with light SW winds at 6 mph, making for some tidy lines. Holding at 2ft, it's not huge, but that long period will give it some punch. It's a marginal call, but the best we've seen in a while.
But if you want the single best call of the whole forecast, you need to mark your calendar for Sunday, July 26th. This is the one. The morning brings it all together: 3ft of SSW groundswell with a super-long 20-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at a strong 656. The wind is glassy out of the SSE at 3 mph. This will be clean, lined-up, and the kind of morning that reminds you why you surf. It’s a classic groundswell setup for a place like Depressions, and while the size is modest, the quality will be high. Expect some longer lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will be worth the wait. A true standout.
After that, Monday, July 27th, looks like it might still have some decent energy (698) but the wind swings onshore again, so get it while it's clean on the Sunday.
That’s it for this one. The first week is a write-off, but that last weekend of July has a couple of bright spots, especially the Sunday morning. Get on it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Sat 18 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
152 | 163 | 136 | 104 | 139 | 141 | 68 | 26 | 54 | 109 | 111 | 139 | 190 | 202 | 197 | 260 | 166 | 103 | 96 | 620 | 530 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross | on | cross-off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:53AM1.46m | 8:23PM2.47m | 10:38AM1.52m | 9:15PM2.51m | 11:20AM1.58m | 10:06PM2.48m | 12:03PM1.64m | 10:56PM2.37m | 12:45PM1.70m | 11:46PM2.18m | 1:27PM1.75m | 00:38AM1.94m | 2:10PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:08AM-0.01m | 1:54PM1.11m | 3:56AM-0.12m | 2:53PM1.07m | 4:42AM-0.16m | 3:49PM1.03m | 5:26AM-0.12m | 4:46PM0.99m | 6:08AM-0.01m | 5:45PM0.97m | 6:48AM0.15m | 6:48PM0.96m | 7:27AM0.35m | 7:58PM0.95m | |||||||
— | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
8:13 | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 20 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 4 | NW 9 | S 12 | SW 18 | WNW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SE 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
152 | 163 | 136 | 104 | 139 | 141 | 5 | 20 | 26 | 109 | 111 | 67 | 90 | 202 | 197 | 260 | 166 | 94 | 226 | 620 | 530 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WNW 9 | S 15 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | W 4 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 |
36 | 27 | 67 | 22 | 22 | 32 | 68 | 5 | 49 | 56 | 77 | 35 | 35 | 89 | 87 | 92 | 104 | 97 | 51 | 48 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 18 | WNW 9 | W 4 | W 16 | SW 19 | NW 9 | S 12 | SW 13 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | WNW 20 | WNW 19 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSE 16 | WNW 17 | SSW 18 | WNW 16 |
24 | 25 | 28 | 2 | 19 | 59 | 21 | 26 | 44 | 41 | 35 | 11 | 28 | 75 | 72 | 54 | 54 | 103 | 96 | 204 | 144 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | NW 5 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 54 | 93 | 111 | 139 | 190 | — | — | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 42 | 0 | 149 | 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.











