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Surf Forecasts:
Driftwoods surfForecast / CAL – Santa Barbara / USA
Forecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Driftwoods surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Driftwoods sea temperature is
14.5° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)Driftwoods surf forecast from 30 May 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 31 May, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 4 Jun, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 503 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 30 May, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Driftwoods this week:
The surf forecast for Driftwoods over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 22s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Driftwoods in the next 16 days are 0.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 04) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jun 02) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 30th May) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 31st May) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 4th Jun) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Driftwoods over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 30 | Sunday 31 | Monday 1 | Tuesday 2 | Wednesday 3 | Thursday 4 | Friday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
WNW 14 | WNW 6 | SSW 22 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | |
121 | 263 | 181 | 314 | 439 | 389 | 448 | 438 | 291 | 171 | 223 | 215 | 196 | 305 | 359 | 332 | 319 | 486 | 475 | 453 | 422 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | |
High Tide | 10:56AM1.46m | 9:23PM2.14m | 11:40AM1.45m | 9:56PM2.13m | 12:25PM1.43m | 10:30PM2.10m | 1:14PM1.41m | 11:05PM2.04m | 2:08PM1.40m | 11:41PM1.97m | 3:03PM1.41m | 00:19AM1.87m | 3:52PM1.46m | 1:02AM1.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:07PM1.15m | 4:52AM0.22m | 3:39PM1.18m | 5:31AM0.23m | 4:11PM1.22m | 6:11AM0.26m | 4:44PM1.25m | 6:52AM0.31m | 5:21PM1.29m | 7:34AM0.37m | 6:08PM1.33m | 8:15AM0.43m | 7:19PM1.36m | ||||||||
5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | |
— | 8:05 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:08 | — | |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 17 |
21 | 22 | 15 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | SSW 20 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SW 17 | W 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | WNW 9 | W 8 | WNW 9 |
121 | 61 | 154 | 314 | 336 | 359 | 240 | 150 | 291 | 94 | 223 | 215 | 144 | 103 | 254 | 192 | 319 | 486 | 238 | 147 | 169 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 23 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSW 20 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SW 16 | SSE 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
66 | 51 | 181 | 307 | 33 | 389 | 448 | 438 | 30 | 171 | 79 | 76 | 196 | 107 | 82 | 332 | 124 | 16 | 475 | 453 | 422 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | S 23 | WNW 13 | NW 12 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSE 16 | WNW 10 | S 16 | WNW 10 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 21 | SSE 14 | SW 16 | WNW 11 | NW 14 | SE 12 | WNW 11 | SSE 12 |
22 | 41 | 62 | 37 | 41 | 21 | 91 | 24 | 38 | 125 | 9 | 44 | 20 | 90 | 18 | 121 | 39 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 11 | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 5 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | — | NW 2 | WNW 8 |
60 | 263 | 103 | — | 439 | 88 | — | — | 140 | 85 | 64 | 124 | — | 305 | 359 | 178 | 256 | 367 | — | 2 | 69 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 42 | 0 | 156 | 7 | 0 | 47 | 8 | 0 | 157 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 150 | 8 | 0 | 128 | 8 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Driftwoods Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Driftwoods provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Driftwoods can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Driftwoods 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 (Driftwoods) 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 Driftwoods 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.
Driftwoods is 7 km (4 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.











