
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, WNW swell with 256 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 2s 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 1.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 16th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's see what's coming down the pipe.
Honestly, the outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of pretty average to poor conditions right through the period. The first week is a write-off with near-daily "poor surf conditions" flags. The second week gets a little more interesting with a few "marginal" days, but nothing that screams "drop everything and paddle out."
The main issue is the wind. It's mostly onshore or cross-onshore, blowing from the WSW and SW. Even when the swell is directional, the wind is just not playing ball. The water temp is sitting at about 64° at the start, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
Let's break it down. The first real, albeit weak, pulses start around July 13th and 14th. The swell is tiny – 1.0ft to 2ft – and the wind is onshore or cross-on. The combined energy is weak, sitting between 92 and 180 (a real dribble). The 15th sees a bump in swell with a 3ft to 5ft push from the WNW, but it's a short-period wind swell (6–7 seconds) and the cross-onshore wind is already making it choppy. The energy jumps to 202–252 (moderate), but the quality is poor. This continues through the 16th, with moderate energy hitting 391, but the wind keeps it messy.
July 17th is the first day we see a "marginal" tag, with a 3ft swell from the WNW in the morning. The wind is onshore, but it's light. The afternoon drops to 1ft with a 17-second period, which is a very long groundswell, but the size is tiny. This long period could make it a bit straight at a beach break, but it's so small it's hardly worth worrying about. The 18th and 19th of July are both marginal and small, with light onshore winds, and the energy is moderate (346–484). The same pattern holds for the 20th and 21st. July 22nd is a "poor" morning, but the afternoon gets a "marginal" tag with a 2ft swell from the SSW.
Now, July 23rd offers the best chance of the whole outlook. The morning has a 3ft swell from the SSE with a 15-second period. The energy jumps to 602 (strong), and the wind is a light cross-shore from the SE. This is the only window where the wind direction is actually working for us. The 24th also holds some promise with a 3ft swell from the S and a 13-second period, with energy at 509 (strong) and a light cross-shore wind. The afternoon on the 24th has onshore wind again, but the morning is the standout.
After that, the 25th and 26th of July fall back into "poor" conditions with onshore wind and a drop in energy. July 27th is "marginal" in the morning, but the 28th is a flat close.
So, the standout, if you can call it that, is Depressions, but only for the mornings of July 23rd and 24th. The swell is small (3ft) but from the SSE, which is a decent direction. The wind is light and cross-shore, which will keep it clean. The period is a healthy 13–15 seconds, so it's real groundswell. The energy is strong (over 500). The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so you might have some company. The big caveat is that these are still "marginal" conditions, not great. The other days, it's a lot of waiting for a tiny, messy wave.
If you're a beginner, the swell rarely gets above 5ft, so size isn't the issue. It's the consistency and the messy wind that will make it frustrating. For the first week, forget it. For the second week, the 23rd and 24th mornings are your best bet, but keep your expectations low.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
139 | 141 | 68 | 44 | 49 | 109 | 93 | 139 | 140 | 171 | 201 | 232 | 109 | 97 | 95 | 194 | 159 | 142 | 238 | 238 | 130 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:38AM1.52m | 9:15PM2.51m | 11:20AM1.58m | 10:06PM2.48m | 12:03PM1.64m | 10:56PM2.37m | 12:45PM1.70m | 11:46PM2.18m | 1:27PM1.75m | 00:38AM1.94m | 2:10PM1.80m | 1:34AM1.67m | 2:53PM1.83m | 2:44AM1.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:53PM1.07m | 4:42AM-0.16m | 3:49PM1.03m | 5:26AM-0.12m | 4:46PM0.99m | 6:08AM-0.01m | 5:45PM0.97m | 6:48AM0.15m | 6:48PM0.96m | 7:27AM0.35m | 7:58PM0.95m | 8:04AM0.57m | 9:18PM0.91m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | |
— | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 22 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 18 | WNW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | SW 17 | S 11 |
139 | 141 | 68 | 26 | 47 | 109 | 93 | 67 | 90 | 171 | 87 | 101 | 109 | 63 | 57 | 42 | 24 | 30 | 57 | 238 | 89 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | SW 16 | WNW 19 | WNW 6 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | SW 18 | WNW 16 | WNW 16 | SW 17 | S 11 | SW 16 |
22 | 16 | 32 | 44 | 49 | 56 | 77 | 35 | 34 | 89 | 72 | 50 | 104 | 97 | 95 | 194 | 144 | 142 | 238 | 86 | 130 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | SW 19 | S 12 | NW 9 | SW 13 | WNW 14 | W 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | WNW 20 | WNW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 17 | WNW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 12 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 |
19 | 59 | 26 | 20 | 25 | 41 | 32 | 11 | 28 | 38 | 31 | 92 | 54 | 54 | 77 | 146 | 159 | 65 | 71 | 91 | 73 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 2 | W 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SE 4 | — | — | — | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 6 |
— | — | 1 | 2 | 22 | 57 | — | 139 | 140 | — | 201 | 232 | 3 | — | — | — | 19 | 33 | — | 69 | 102 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 310 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 42 | 0 | 142 | 149 | 0 | 42 | 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.










