
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 559 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s 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 26) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 0.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Depressions.
First thing to say: it’s a pretty quiet run. The swell sticks small to tiny for almost the whole 16-day window, and most of the time the wind is blowing straight onshore or cross-onshore, which kills any chance of proper waves. The combined energy figures are weak, mostly in the 100-500 range (moderate at best), and there’s very little to get excited about.
The best of a very light patch falls on Sunday 27 July. The morning shows a 3ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy hits 706 (moderate). That’s a proper groundswell, long period, which at a spot like Depressions can mean some decent shape if you time it right. The wind is light and onshore from the SW at 6 mph, so it won’t be glassy, but it’s not strong enough to ruin it. Still, the wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions”, so don’t expect magic. This is a beginner-friendly break, consistent enough, and crowds are possible. The water temperature is about average for this time of year.
After that, Monday 28 July morning has a similar 3ft SW swell with 17 seconds and energy at 600 (moderate), but again the wind is onshore. It’s a “marginal” call again. Nothing else in the first week really stands out – most afternoons are poor, with cross-onshore wind and choppy conditions.
The second week, from the 1st of August onwards, is even weaker. Swell heights drop below 3ft, periods shorten, combined energy falls into the low hundreds or even double digits. The best chance of anything surfable is Sunday 9 August afternoon, when we get a tiny 2ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the SSW at 3 mph. That’s a rare moment of clean conditions, but the waves are tiny – combined energy just 121 (weak). The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”. That’s about as good as it gets in this stretch.
So, honestly, the standout is the Sunday 27 July morning session. It’s still marginal, but if you’re a beginner or just want to get wet on a small, long-period groundswell, that’s your window. Everything else is a lot of waiting for waves that never really show. There’s a long gap from around the 1st of August through to the 9th with barely anything worth paddling out for.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
546 | 384 | 327 | 399 | 559 | 325 | 377 | 358 | 377 | 274 | 206 | 226 | 305 | 192 | 250 | 341 | 377 | 465 | 420 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 12:14PM1.60m | 11:12PM1.97m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:43AM0.28m | 5:15PM1.01m | |||||||
— | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
8:06 | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 31 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 31 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSE 14 | WNW 8 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
120 | 107 | 327 | 399 | 559 | 325 | 201 | 144 | 211 | 206 | 118 | 85 | 140 | 94 | 250 | 116 | 377 | 465 | 420 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSE 10 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | WNW 8 | SSE 14 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — |
546 | 384 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 129 | 377 | 358 | 377 | 274 | 206 | 226 | 305 | 192 | 90 | 341 | 85 | 42 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 11 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | S 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | — | — |
43 | 23 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 98 | 105 | 150 | 127 | 165 | 164 | 154 | 144 | 82 | 84 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 |
146 | — | 140 | 156 | 137 | 160 | 139 | — | — | 93 | — | — | 130 | — | 59 | — | — | 79 | 81 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 76 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










