Driftwoods surfForecast / CAL – Santa Barbara / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Wednesday 18 Feb 2026 PST
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
15.9° C
(Which is 2.2°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Driftwoods this week:

The surf forecast for Driftwoods over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Feb 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 1.7m and 12s 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 12 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Feb 18) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 11s period and expected on Friday (Feb 20) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (PST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Wed 18th Feb)6ft (1.9m) 12s
Best Surf10PM (Wed 18th Feb)6ft (1.9m) 12s
Most Powerful 7AM (Wed 18th Feb)10ft (3.0m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Driftwoods over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
1
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.5
W
2.3
W
1.7
W
2.2
W
2.5
WNW
2.2
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.3
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.4
WNW
0.5
W
0.2
SSW
0.6
SW
0.8
SW
1.4
W
1.5
W
1.6
W
1.5
W
1.3
W
1.4
W
1.3
WNW
Period(s) (?)1212127911111110109136710101112111112
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)18391565855478123010804854071333641162359392470575628411449486
Wind
(km/h)
20
NW
25
NW
10
NNW
10
NW
30
NW
15
NNW
10
NW
15
WNW
5
NE
15
SE
10
SSE
15
ESE
10
ESE
5
SE
5
NNE
10
W
20
WNW
10
NW
5
WNW
15
W
10
WNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
crossglasscrosscross-
on
crosscrosscross-
on
glasscrosscrosscross-
off
crosscrosscross
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:39PM
1.79
10:19AM
1.94
11:07PM
1.87
11:04AM
1.75
11:39PM
1.93
11:59AM
1.54
12:16AM
1.96
1:13PM
1.34
1:04AM
1.97
3:14PM
1.21
2:07AM
1.97
5:57PM
1.26
3:29AM
1.99
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:20PM
0.32
4:20AM
0.76
4:45PM
0.45
5:10AM
0.71
5:12PM
0.61
6:07AM
0.68
5:39PM
0.78
7:17AM
0.65
6:09PM
0.95
8:45AM
0.61
6:45PM
1.11
10:23AM
0.51
8:01PM
1.24
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Sunrise6:41--6:39--6:39--6:37--6:37--6:35--6:35--
Sunset-5:45--5:45--5:46--5:47--5:49--5:50--5:51-
part cloud
clear
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
--411-----------------
Temp. °C1212101311813139141312161615212117222017
Feels °C (?)65864399710108131414181815201816
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Driftwoods:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Driftwoods surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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 12 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest