Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, WNW swell with 392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Depressions in the next 16 days are 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Depressions over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me tell you what I’m seein’ in the water.
The 16-day picture for Depressions is a rough one to swallow. The water is a balmy 71°F, which is a massive 8°F warmer than normal for this time of year – a real tropical anomaly. But that’s where the fun stops, because the surf quality is hurtin'.
We kick off on Thursday, August 13th, with a tiny 2ft SSW groundswell (16-second period) and a light breeze, but it's blowin' onshore so it’s just messy. The combined energy (200) is weak. Friday the 14th is more of the same – a paltry 2ft swell.
The whole first week is a bust. Saturday the 15th gets flagged as *marginal* in the morning with a 2ft SSW swell, but don't waste your time – it's still far from clean. There’s a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions stretching all the way through to the end of the week.
The one real standout, and the only reason to keep an eye on the forecast, is Monday, August 25th. That Tuesday morning could actually give us something to ride. The wave energy jumps to 515 (moderate) on a 4ft WNW swell at 8 seconds. The wind is supposed to be light and variable from the SW in the morning, which might just flip offshore for Depressions (the best wind is WSW). It’s only rated marginal, but compared to every other day in this window, that morning is your only hope for a half-decent paddle. Later that afternoon, a 2ft SSE groundswell (15 seconds) shows up, but the onshore wind kills it.
The rest of the run is awful: weak swells and cross-onshore breezes chop everything up. For the last day in the window, Friday, August 28th, the morning has a 4ft WNW swell (8 seconds) with light offshore winds from the SW. The energy hits 474, but it’s still just a marginal call – worth watching, but no guarantee.
So, a long, flat spell with barely a silver lining. A few tiny windows for the truly dedicated. Might be better to wax the car than the board for a while.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
160 | 154 | 104 | 180 | 240 | 232 | 229 | 322 | 212 | 191 | 188 | 188 | 206 | 204 | 189 | 370 | 336 | 186 | 244 | 291 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:45PM2.20m | 11:54AM1.84m | 11:32PM2.00m | 12:29PM1.88m | 00:20AM1.77m | 1:03PM1.89m | 1:15AM1.53m | 1:40PM1.88m | 2:25AM1.33m | 2:22PM1.84m | 4:21AM1.20m | 3:14PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:41PM0.80m | 5:30AM0.19m | 5:33PM0.75m | 6:03AM0.37m | 6:28PM0.74m | 6:34AM0.58m | 7:27PM0.75m | 7:02AM0.78m | 8:36PM0.76m | 7:28AM0.97m | 10:00PM0.75m | 7:51AM1.12m | 11:30PM0.69m | |||||||
— | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 31 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 20 |
Feels °C | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 |
160 | 154 | 104 | 180 | 240 | 232 | 229 | 322 | 212 | 191 | 188 | 188 | 186 | 120 | 44 | 153 | 120 | 186 | 97 | 76 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 10 | W 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 | SW 13 | W 14 | WNW 14 | S 16 | WNW 12 |
21 | 18 | 87 | 140 | 100 | 45 | 44 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 80 | 44 | 4 | 19 | 43 | 30 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 20 | WNW 8 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 16 | S 9 | SW 19 | NW 14 | WNW 14 | S 16 |
19 | 75 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 67 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 19 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 |
— | — | — | 19 | 14 | 13 | 37 | 32 | 27 | 64 | 77 | 95 | 206 | 204 | 189 | 370 | 336 | 171 | 244 | 291 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 277 | 0 | 149 | 1 | 0 | 312 | 1 | 1 | 312 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 76 | 0 | 1 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 76 | 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.











