Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 24 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
21.0° C
4.1° 

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


Depressions surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSE swell with 671 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 22s period with SW 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 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 22s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s 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 1.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 24th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 22s
Best Surf 5AM (Sat 25th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 21s
Most Powerful 8AM (Fri 31st Jul)4ft (1.2m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a tricky one. The only spot in the mix is Depressions, and it’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent break. The water is sitting at a very unusual 70°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a real bonus for those long sessions.

The outlook kicks off on Friday, 24th July, and honestly, it’s a slow start. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, but with a very long period of 24 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, but for a beach break, that long period can make the waves break too straight and mushy. The combined energy is moderate (645), and the wind is light and offshore, so it’ll be clean. Still, it’s marginal – more of a longboard glide than a proper wave.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th look similar. Swell stays small, around 2ft to 2ft, still from the SSW/SW, with periods dropping from 21 to 18 seconds. The wind holds light offshore, so the surface will be glassy. The energy is still moderate (around 500-550). The sets will be far apart, but if you’re patient, there’s a little something to play with.

Monday the 27th sees a tiny bump. The morning has 3ft swell from the SSW, 18-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 707 (still moderate). The wind is offshore again. It’s the best of a small bunch, but it’s still a far cry from pumping.

From Tuesday the 28th through to the end of July, the story is much the same. Swell heights hover around 2ft to 4ft, directions wobble between SSW and SSE, and periods slowly drop from 17 down to 14 seconds. The wind remains mostly light and offshore, keeping the surface clean. The highlight is Tuesday afternoon, 28th July, when the combined energy hits 1258 (moderate), but the swell is still only 3ft. It’s a tease. The score is never high – it’s all marginal or poor conditions.

The first week of August is a real letdown. Swell direction shifts to the W and WNW, and the period drops to 9-8 seconds – that’s short-period, weak windswell. The combined energy falls to between 100 and 350 (weak to weak-moderate). The wind turns cross-onshore, making it choppy. The surf is poor and not worth a paddle.

The second week, from 5th to 8th August, is a total write-off. Swell sizes are tiny, 1ft to 2ft, and the energy is in the weak range (54-164). The wind is light, but the swell is just not there. The waves are so small it’s barely a ripple.

The Standout (sort of)
If you had to pick one session, it’s the Monday morning, 27th July. The 3ft, 18-second SSW swell, with clean offshore wind, gives the best chance of a small, rideable wave. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but it’s the best of a very quiet window.

Bottom line: This is a flat spell for Depressions. The consistent, light offshore winds are a blessing, but the swell energy is low and the periods are all over the place. For a beginner, the small clean waves in the first few days are fine, but for anyone else, it’s pretty bleak. The long stretch of poor surf from 3rd August onward is a real killer. The setup is so small and weak, it’s not even interesting for kiting.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
0
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
3
0
2
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
24
0.4
SW
24
0.7
SW
21
0.7
SSW
21
0.6
SSW
21
0.9
SW
19
0.7
SW
19
0.7
SW
18
0.8
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
19
0.8
SSW
17
0.8
SW
17
1
SSW
17
1.4
WNW
9
0.6
SW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.7
SSE
14
0.8
SSE
14
0.8
SSE
14
0.8
SSE
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
368
141
467
404
288
546
384
327
399
559
325
377
358
569
321
206
223
183
257
253
261
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
10
WSW
5
N
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SW
10
SW
5
NE
5
SSW
5
SW
5
E
10
SSE
5
SSW
0
ESE
Wind State
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-off
cross
on
glassy
High Tide
9:02AM1.34m
6:53PM1.97m
9:37AM1.39m
7:36PM2.03m
10:04AM1.43m
8:16PM2.10m
10:30AM1.46m
8:53PM2.15m
10:56AM1.49m
9:29PM2.17m
11:22AM1.52m
10:03PM2.15m
11:48AM1.56m
10:37PM2.09m
Low Tide
12:20PM1.24m
2:39AM0.37m
1:15PM1.23m
3:14AM0.29m
2:00PM1.20m
3:47AM0.23m
2:39PM1.15m
4:18AM0.20m
3:16PM1.11m
4:48AM0.19m
3:54PM1.07m
5:16AM0.22m
4:33PM1.04m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:07
8:06
8:05
8:05
8:04
8:02
8:01
 mm
Temp °C
27
28
25
28
29
26
29
30
27
28
29
25
27
29
25
28
28
24
26
27
22
Feels °C
27
28
25
28
29
25
28
29
25
27
28
24
26
29
25
29
28
26
27
28
23
  • 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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