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Surf Forecasts:

El Capitan surfForecast / CAL – Santa Barbara / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 pm Sunday 12 Oct 2025 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
18.8° C
 (Which is 1.8°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Capitan this week:

The surf forecast for El Capitan over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Oct 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 18s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Capitan in the next 12 days are 2.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Oct 12) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Oct 15) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 12th Oct)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 12th Oct)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Most Powerful11PM (Sun 12th Oct)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
1
0
0
1
1
3
2
2
1
1
0
1
1
0
2
1
1
3
1
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2
WNW
1.9
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.1
WNW
1.4
WSW
1
WNW
1
WNW
1.4
W
1
W
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
SSW
0.6
WNW
0.7
NW
1.1
NW
1
NW
Period(s) (?)6999612121110161515161615151818161614
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)325573360180120256294502204164146144166160142144207211274551412
Wind
(km/h)
15
WNW
10
NNW
5
WSW
10
SW
20
S
5
SSE
5
W
10
NNE
5
NW
10
WNW
10
N
5
SW
10
W
10
N
5
SW
10
W
5
N
5
S
10
W
5
N
10
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crossoffcross-
on		cross-
on		ononcrosscross-
off		glassglassoffglasscrossoffglasscrossoffoncrossglasscross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
5:55AM
1.47
3:25PM
1.89
6:47AM
1.57
4:57PM
1.84
7:23AM
1.67
6:12PM
1.82
7:53AM
1.76
7:12PM
1.82
8:18AM
1.84
8:02PM
1.80
8:40AM
1.91
8:47PM
1.76
9:01AM
1.97
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:08PM
0.31
9:20AM
1.36
11:23PM
0.33
11:18AM
1.28
12:23AM
0.34
12:35PM
1.13
1:09AM
0.37
1:29PM
0.96
1:47AM
0.43
2:12PM
0.79
2:18AM
0.52
2:50PM
0.65
2:45AM
0.62
Sun
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunrise--7:03--7:03--7:05--7:05--7:05--7:07--7:07
Sunset6:29--6:28--6:27--6:25--6:23--6:22--6:22--
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
Rain (mm)
----2282--------------
Temp. °C261719201614161417211621221825252124242022
Feels °C (?)231418181412141315191419191723221922221820
  • 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

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for CAL - Santa Barbara

  1. weather stationWind Update Offshore wind reported 29 km from El Capitan (moderate winds from the WNW at East Santa Barbara Buoy 29 km from El Capitan). 2.2m 8s swell from the WNW to make surfable waves.

    50 minutes ago El Capitan
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29 km away, 50 min ago

22 km/h
WNW
0.0
18.8
Air / Water (°C)
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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 El Capitan 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.

View detailed surf forecast for El Capitan at:
surf-forecast.com

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 12 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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