El Capitan surfForecast / CAL – Santa Barbara / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Wednesday 27 May 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
El Capitan surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's El Capitan sea temperature is
14.8° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

El Capitan surf forecast from 27 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 30 May, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 30 May, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, WNW swell with 1,427 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 27 May, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period with WNW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Capitan this week:

The surf forecast for El Capitan over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 27) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Capitan in the next 16 days are 2.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 30) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jun 02) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 27th May)5ft (1.5m) 12s
Best Surf11PM (Sat 30th May)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 30th May)7ft (2.1m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Capitan over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
1
2
3
2
1
2
0
3
3
2
4
3
2
2
3
1
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
WNW
13
1.6
WNW
13
1.4
WNW
12
1.1
WNW
11
0.6
WNW
20
0.9
NW
18
1.1
NW
16
1
WNW
16
1
WNW
14
0.8
WNW
13
1.9
WNW
13
2
WNW
8
0.7
SSW
20
1.7
WNW
11
1.7
WNW
11
1
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
2
WNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
805
812
530
270
253
455
587
499
437
229
1264
525
346
737
615
651
637
432
402
392
476
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
20
W
5
NE
10
SSE
5
SE
5
N
10
SW
25
WNW
10
NNW
10
WSW
25
NW
10
N
10
SW
15
WNW
5
N
10
SW
10
W
5
NNW
10
SW
15
WNW
5
N
cross
cross
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
8:35AM1.45m
7:57PM2.07m
9:27AM1.46m
8:25PM2.11m
10:14AM1.46m
8:53PM2.13m
10:59AM1.46m
9:24PM2.13m
11:42AM1.45m
9:57PM2.12m
12:28PM1.43m
10:32PM2.09m
1:17PM1.41m
11:07PM2.04m
Low Tide
1:32PM0.94m
3:07AM0.39m
2:05PM1.03m
3:42AM0.29m
2:37PM1.10m
4:17AM0.24m
3:09PM1.15m
4:54AM0.22m
3:41PM1.19m
5:32AM0.23m
4:13PM1.22m
6:13AM0.26m
4:46PM1.26m
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:50
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:04
8:04
8:05
8:05
8:06
8:07
8:07
2
1
Temp °C
17
17
14
15
14
14
20
22
16
24
27
16
26
25
18
24
27
21
25
28
21
15
13
11
13
13
13
18
19
12
22
23
13
24
23
14
22
25
18
23
26
18
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
WNW
13
0.8
SSW
14
1.4
WNW
12
1.1
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
10
1.1
NW
16
1
WNW
16
1
WNW
14
0.8
WNW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
22
0.9
WNW
12
0.8
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
18
1.3
WNW
9
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
Energy kJ
805
229
530
270
202
163
587
499
437
229
69
181
193
485
531
274
637
432
402
392
310
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
14
0.1
S
10
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.9
NW
18
0.8
WNW
10
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SW
23
0.4
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
20
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SW
15
1
SSW
18
0.2
SSE
16
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
NW
10
0.3
SSE
15
0.4
SW
20
Energy kJ
233
2
173
143
143
455
128
147
105
111
130
121
346
102
54
651
24
66
25
42
98
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
10
0.1
S
10
0.1
NW
23
0.4
WNW
21
0.6
WNW
20
0.6
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
14
0.1
S
21
0.2
SSW
19
0.2
SSW
19
0.3
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
12
0.2
SSE
16
0.1
S
9
0.3
SSE
15
0.2
SSE
15
0.1
SW
22
0.3
SSE
14
Energy kJ
2
2
21
175
253
141
145
9
37
34
62
65
103
33
28
26
2
44
22
18
40
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
WNW
13
1.3
WNW
5
1.3
WNW
6
1.1
WNW
7
1.9
WNW
13
2
WNW
8
1.4
WNW
9
1.7
WNW
11
1.7
WNW
11
1.3
WNW
10
1.2
WNW
10
1
WNW
8
1.5
WNW
6
2
WNW
8
Energy kJ
812
66
105
118
1264
525
311
737
615
320
269
123
158
476
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
3
1
2
3
1
1
2
1
2
3
1
4
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
Distance (km)
17
329
0
166
0
0
326
329
0
17
51
0
165
0
0
51
9
0
51
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
2
4
2
1
3
4
4
2
3
2
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
4
3
2
4
3
4
4
2
2
4
3
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
9
9
6
5
4
5
5
5
7
7
6
5
4
4
4
5
6
4
4
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the El Capitan Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for El Capitan provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Capitan can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Capitan 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 (El Capitan) 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 El Capitan 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.

El Capitan is 16 km (10 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.

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