
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, WNW swell with 427 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Depressions in the next 16 days are 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right now, the surf around Depressions is pretty grim, plain and simple. We’ve got a stretch of small, junky waves that are barely gonna get you wet. The better days are few and far between, so don't get too excited.
The water here is sitting at 72° and that’s a big deal – it’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick wetsuit.
Let’s break it down. Starting this Saturday afternoon, the 12th, there’s a weak 2ft SW swell with a 14-second period, but the cross-onshore wind has it all chopped up. Poor conditions, not worth the paddle. The combined energy is a weak 208, so there’s just nothing behind it.
Sunday the 13th looks a little better in the morning – a 4ft WNW swell with a short 8-second period bumps the energy up to 310, but it’s still marginal and the wind is on it. The afternoon is a letdown: 7ft of WNW swell but with a 6-second period, making it a messy, crumbly mess at 457 energy. It’s all over the place.
Monday the 14th has a small 4ft WNW swell in the morning, but it’s still only a marginal call. The period is 9 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 272. It’s not great, but it's the closest thing we have to a real wave in the first few days. Even then, it’s a struggle.
From Tuesday the 15th right through to the 27th, it’s a whole lot of nothing. We’re talking swell heights mostly under 2ft, with periods anywhere from 12 to 19 seconds. While that long-period stuff usually means better shape, at this size it’s just not doing anything for us at a beach break like this. The energy readings stay in the low to mid-100s and 200s, which is weak to moderate at best. It's a lot of chop and small, weak lines.
There is one little blip on the 17th (Thursday) afternoon where a 2ft SSW swell at 15 seconds pushes the energy to 256, but it’s still got a cross-on wind and is just not worth your time.
Looking further out, the 19th (Saturday) afternoon has a bit more push at 2ft SW, 18 seconds, and 364 energy, but again, the wind is going to have it messy. It’s all pretty medi-ocre.
Honestly, if you're a beginner, the biggest day on the 13th at 7ft will be too much. For everyone else, there's just nothing here that gets the heart rate up. The deep period swells are there, but they’re just not showing any size. If the wind and tide don't line up perfectly on one of these small days, you're better off doing something else. This stretch is looking pretty flat, and that’s just how it is for this spot.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 18°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | S 18 | S 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
102 | 96 | 194 | 329 | 388 | 197 | 158 | 166 | 129 | 99 | 66 | 98 | 53 | 64 | 31 | 123 | 121 | 133 | 133 | 130 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:21PM1.79m | 11:30AM2.01m | 00:10AM1.60m | 11:59AM1.98m | 1:05AM1.43m | 12:31PM1.92m | 2:21AM1.29m | 1:08PM1.84m | 5:08AM1.24m | 3:16PM1.70m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 5:18PM0.52m | 5:14AM0.65m | 6:05PM0.52m | 5:39AM0.83m | 6:55PM0.55m | 6:02AM0.99m | 7:53PM0.61m | 6:19AM1.13m | 9:08PM0.66m | 5:56AM1.24m | 10:39PM0.66m | 11:58PM0.61m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 28 | 29 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 27 | 28 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
102 | 96 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 197 | 158 | 166 | 129 | 99 | 66 | 30 | 33 | 64 | 19 | 123 | 121 | 133 | 133 | 130 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 5 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
59 | 29 | 58 | 58 | 56 | 48 | 107 | 75 | 65 | 62 | 39 | 88 | 38 | 9 | 25 | 46 | 33 | 69 | 60 | 59 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSE 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SE 3 | S 19 | S 18 | S 17 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 10 |
7 | 8 | 12 | 25 | 2 | 27 | 1 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 29 | 98 | 53 | 13 | 31 | 72 | 104 | 16 | 6 | 16 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | — | — | WNW 4 | SE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 |
40 | 90 | 194 | 329 | 388 | — | — | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 15 | 23 | 62 | 71 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 82 | 0 | 141 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 149 | 0 | 149 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 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.










