Depressions Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.41° N 119.85° W

Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 04 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Depressions sea temperature is
21.2° 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 5 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 19s period, SSW swell with 212 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s 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 0.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) 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 (Wed 5th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Sat 8th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 2PM (Fri 7th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 19s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. Looking at the next couple of weeks, it's a pretty flat and quiet patch for our shores. We're not talking about a total desert, but the ocean is going to be taking a long nap for most of this period. The good news is that when there's nothing happening, it doesn't usually stay that way forever, and the models are always liable to change.

The first real sign of life, and honestly the best of the whole run, shows up early on Friday morning, the 7th of August. The surf won't be big—a clean 1.3ft of SW swell—but the wind is forecast to be dead glassy. That's a huge plus in my book. It'll be small, clean, and contestable on the longboards. The energy is still weak, sitting at 140, but those conditions are about as good as it gets for the small stuff. This is your window if you're itching for a wave.

The swell tries to pick up a little over the weekend. On Sunday morning, the 9th, we see 1.6ft of SSW swell and, again, that magic word: glassy. It's another day for the log, with the energy wandering up to 142-149. It's ordinary, but at least it's clean. The periods are hovering around 14-15 seconds, so there's a bit of push behind it.

Then the wind shifts and things get a bit messier. From Monday the 10th through to Wednesday the 19th, it's a frustrating mix. The swell hangs around in that 1.3ft to 2.3ft range, but it's often cross-onshore or just messy. There's a bit more energy showing up on the 14th (408) and 15th (342), but the wind is more onshore and choppy, so it's going to be a bumpy, tough paddle for not much reward. We're in that "check back later" territory. This is a long stretch of nothing special, so don't hold your breath.

The one curveball in all of this is right at the end of the window. On Wednesday afternoon, the 19th, and into Thursday morning the 20th, the swell height jacks up to 5.6ft and 4.6ft, but it's from the WNW and with a short, weak 6-second period. That's a classic windswell setup, not a clean groundswell. With onshore winds forecast, it's going to be a choppy, messy, and pretty junky surf. That kind of combo is more interesting for the kite surfers ripping around than for us paddle surfers. We'll skip that.

So, to sum it up: mark your calendar for Friday the 7th and Sunday the 9th for the cleanest, if not the biggest, waves on offer. Everything else in the near term is a waiting game. The water temps are about average for this time of year, which is a relief, but the ocean is feeling pretty subdued. Patience, my friends.

Later.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
2
1
1
1
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.3
SW
14
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.3
SSW
18
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
SW
17
0.4
S
18
0.4
SW
16
0.5
S
16
0.5
SSW
15
0.5
SSW
15
0.6
S
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SW
20
0.4
SW
19
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
99
51
31
56
45
44
63
94
143
75
97
65
125
125
121
153
105
102
96
Wind (km/h)
0
SW
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
E
10
SW
15
WSW
5
ESE
5
SSW
10
WSW
0
SW
5
SSW
10
WSW
0
ESE
5
SSE
5
SSW
5
E
5
S
5
S
5
SE
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
on
on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
2:54AM1.26m
3:07PM1.92m
5:09AM1.17m
4:08PM1.99m
7:18AM1.23m
5:17PM2.09m
8:21AM1.34m
6:24PM2.20m
9:02AM1.44m
7:24PM2.32m
9:38AM1.53m
8:19PM2.40m
Low Tide
9:22PM0.82m
7:54AM0.94m
10:54PM0.69m
8:38AM1.08m
00:16AM0.50m
10:00AM1.18m
1:19AM0.30m
11:40AM1.21m
2:11AM0.13m
12:58PM1.16m
2:57AM0.01m
2:01PM1.07m
3:39AM-0.05m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
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>
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:13
6:15
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:53
7:52
7:52
 mm
Temp °C
20
25
25
23
26
27
24
26
28
24
27
28
24
29
30
24
28
27
22
Feels °C
21
25
24
23
26
27
24
27
29
24
28
28
24
30
31
25
29
28
25
  • 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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