
Surf Forecasts:
Depressions surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, WNW 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★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s 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 Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| 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, let’s get into it. I’m lookin’ at Depressions, and I gotta be straight with you – this is gonna be a tough stretch. We’re talkin’ the next 16 days, and honestly, there’s not a single good surf session on the cards. The whole period is a brutal run of poor surf conditions, with only a couple of days creepin’ into “marginal” territory, and even then, it’s not worth gettin’ wet for.
Right from the start, Sunday August 2nd, we’ve got a tiny 3 ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is onshore from the WSW at 9 mph, and the wave comment says it all: “poor surf conditions.” The water is a toasty 70 °F, which is a whopping 7 °F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s really unusual, but it doesn’t help when the waves are junk. The combined energy is at 233 (moderate), but it’s all wasted. That sets the tone.
The next week is a total write-off. Monday morning the 3rd, you’re lookin’ at 3 ft, 9-second wind swell, still onshore. Tuesday the 4th drops to 2 ft, then 1 ft. It just gets sadder. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping everything messy. On Wednesday the 5th, the period drops to 14 seconds, but the swell is only 1 ft to 1 ft – no energy to work with. The combined energy sits in the weak 60s and 70s for a couple of days there. That’s a dead ocean.
We hit a little blip on Monday the 10th afternoon. The combined energy bumps up to 273 (moderate), and the wave comment finally says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” But it’s still only 2 ft, 13-second period, with light onshore wind. You *might* get a knee-high runner, but it’s a long shot. Not a standout.
The next week doesn’t offer any hope either. The swell stays tiny – 1 ft to 2 ft – through the 11th to the 16th. The wind is mostly light and onshore, keeping the surface clean-ish but the waves just aren’t there. The combined energy climbs into the 300s and 400s by the 14th, but it’s all from short-period, weak, onshore slop. By Monday the 17th morning, we see 2 ft from the WNW, but come afternoon, it jumps to 7 ft from the WNW with a shocking 6-second period. That’s a massive, choppy, blown-out mess. Combined energy is 445 (strong), but with a period that short, it’s just a washing machine. That’s kite-surfing conditions, not for paddle surfing.
So, what’s the best on offer? There isn’t one. Not a single day here gets a recommendation. The only slight glimmer is that Monday the 10th afternoon, with 2 ft and a 13-second period, might give you a tiny, clean-ish wave if you’re desperate. But it’s not a highlight. It’s just less terrible than the rest.
This is a blank run. For this area, it’s not abnormal to have a stretch like this. Forecasts can change, but right now, leave the board in the car and go do somethin’ else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 12 | WNW 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 17 | S 18 | SW 16 | S 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
129 | 47 | 113 | 110 | 40 | 66 | 34 | 99 | 51 | 31 | 56 | 46 | 44 | 63 | 94 | 143 | 75 | 97 | 65 | 125 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:33AM1.63m | 1:39PM1.79m | 1:30AM1.44m | 2:17PM1.85m | 2:54AM1.26m | 3:07PM1.92m | 5:09AM1.17m | 4:08PM1.99m | 7:18AM1.23m | 5:17PM2.09m | 8:21AM1.34m | 6:24PM2.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:55PM0.95m | 6:57AM0.64m | 8:01PM0.90m | 7:23AM0.79m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 23 |
Feels °C | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | W 6 | WNW 9 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | W 6 | NW 9 | SW 14 | W 5 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 4 | SW 13 | W 4 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | WNW 4 | SW 17 | WNW 7 | S 16 |
44 | 39 | 113 | 42 | 35 | 18 | 20 | 99 | 10 | 31 | 56 | 9 | 44 | 10 | 43 | 143 | 6 | 75 | 17 | 125 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | WNW 9 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | NW 9 | SSW 12 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 11 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 17 | S 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
49 | 47 | 44 | 41 | 37 | 21 | 29 | 14 | 51 | 13 | 6 | 46 | 8 | 44 | 94 | 42 | 75 | 97 | 65 | 122 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 13 | WSW 16 | S 11 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | W 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 13 | W 5 | S 16 | WNW 8 |
11 | 44 | 26 | 9 | 40 | 28 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 37 | 37 | 63 | 4 | 4 | 42 | 4 | 46 | 22 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 9 | W 5 | WNW 9 | W 4 | W 4 | — | W 4 | W 5 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 8 | — | SW 4 | — | — |
129 | 36 | — | 110 | 29 | 66 | 15 | 26 | — | 22 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 11 | — | 14 | — | 3 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 110 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 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.











