Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
21.2° C
3.9° 

Depressions surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Depressions surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SSW swell with 191 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s 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 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 0.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Mon 17th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 18th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 16s
Most Powerful 2PM (Wed 19th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, truth time. The surf over the next couple of weeks is looking flat, weak, and pretty damn disappointing. There’s just not much energy out there, and the wind isn’t doing us any favors either. It’s one of those stretches where you might be better off doing literally anything else.

The only spot that’s even in the conversation is Depressions. It’s a beginner-friendly wave that breaks fairly consistently, but that’s where the good news ends. The water is sitting at 70°F, which is a massive 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year—that’s a big deal. But it won’t help the waves.

Right now, and into the 16th and 17th of August, it’s just poor. There’s a weak 2ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period, but the wind is blowing right onshore. The energy is weak (237 and 232). You’ll be bobbing around on nothing. Don’t bother.

On the 18th, the swell becomes a jumbly 3ft from the WNW, but the period drops to a useless 7 seconds. That’s just wind chop. The 19th and 20th are marginal at best, with tiny 2ft to 2ft SSW swells and light onshore winds. The energy is weak (283 and 207). You might find ankle-biters, but it’s not worth the drive.

There’s a solid run of nothing from the 21st through the 24th. The swell stays under 2ft, and the wind is light but onshore. The energy readings are all in the low 100s and 200s, which says it all. On the 23rd, a longer-period SW swell (18-19 seconds) tries to push in, but it’s still only 1ft. That’s a lake, not an ocean.

Things get a little weird on the afternoon of the 25th. A WNW windswell bumps up to 4ft, but the period is a pitiful 5 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore. It’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. For a beach setup like Depressions, this looks a lot more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle surfers. The energy is still weak at 247. I’d give it a hard pass.

The last few days of August are more of the same: small, weak SW swells with periods between 14 and 17 seconds, but never any size. The energy is weak to moderate, peaking at 324 on the morning of the 29th, but with only 2ft on offer, it’s still not worth paddling out for. The 28th has a 2ft SSW bump, but it’s still poor.

Honestly, from the 21st right through to the end of the month, there isn’t a single day that gets me amped. It’s a long, flat, cruise-control stretch. The only silver lining is that Depressions is fairly consistent, so it doesn’t usually stay this bad for long—forecasts can change, and I’d be checking back in a few days.

Bottom line: leave the board in the car. There’s nothing worth your time. This is a real test of patience.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
S
16
0.5
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
16
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.7
WNW
8
0.7
WNW
8
0.4
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
191
188
188
186
140
86
153
165
184
164
110
118
118
115
59
58
57
67
70
72
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
5
NW
10
SW
15
W
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SW
10
WSW
5
ESE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NW
Wind State
on
cross
on
cross-on
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
1:15AM1.53m
1:40PM1.88m
2:25AM1.33m
2:22PM1.84m
4:21AM1.20m
3:14PM1.80m
4:21PM1.79m
8:37AM1.33m
5:31PM1.81m
8:55AM1.39m
6:29PM1.88m
Low Tide
7:27PM0.75m
7:02AM0.78m
8:36PM0.76m
7:28AM0.97m
10:00PM0.75m
7:51AM1.12m
11:30PM0.69m
00:43AM0.59m
10:39AM1.31m
1:34AM0.49m
12:14PM1.30m
2:13AM0.40m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:22
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:45
7:44
7:43
7:42
7:40
7:39
7:37
 mm
Temp °C
25
23
27
27
25
29
29
26
28
29
27
29
29
26
29
29
27
29
31
27
Feels °C
24
22
27
26
23
28
28
25
28
29
27
29
29
26
29
29
27
28
31
26
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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