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Surf Forecasts:

El Capitan surfForecast / CAL – Santa Barbara / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Sunday 11 Jan 2026 PST
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
15.7° C
 (Which is 1.9°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 (Jan 11) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jan 12) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jan 12) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (PST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sun 11th Jan)2ft (0.6m) 14s
Best Surf 4AM (Mon 12th Jan)4.5ft (1.4m) 18s
Most Powerful10AM (Mon 12th Jan)6.5ft (2.0m) 17s

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 Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
3
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.7
WNW
0.4
NW
1.2
WNW
2
WNW
1.9
WNW
1.7
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.2
WNW
0.8
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.6
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.2
WNW
1.2
WNW
1.1
WNW
1
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.7
WNW
0.7
WNW
Period(s) (?)142118171616141413131816141413131313121217
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1661359592173177213249438375774474181025994850539523444356198147311
Wind
(km/h)
0
N
0
WSW
10
N
0
N
5
W
5
NNE
5
E
5
W
10
NNE
5
NNE
5
WSW
5
NNE
5
ESE
5
WSW
5
N
0
E
10
WNW
10
NNE
5
N
0
NNW
5
NNE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassglassoffglassglassoffglasscrosscross-
off		glassglasscross-
off		glasscrossglassglasscross-
off		cross-
off		glassglassoff
High Tide
/ height (m)
5:50PM
1.20
4:47AM
1.88
7:22PM
1.26
5:30AM
1.93
8:15PM
1.33
6:12AM
1.99
8:50PM
1.39
6:51AM
2.07
9:20PM
1.42
7:29AM
2.14
9:48PM
1.45
8:06AM
2.20
10:15PM
1.47
Low Tide
/ height (m)
11:42AM
0.76
9:36PM
1.09
12:37PM
0.61
10:37PM
1.18
1:19PM
0.47
11:37PM
1.22
1:55PM
0.36
12:27AM
1.22
2:29PM
0.26
1:10AM
1.20
3:02PM
0.19
1:48AM
1.17
3:34PM
0.15
2:24AM
1.13
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunrise7:07--7:05--7:05--7:05--7:05--7:05--7:05--
Sunset-5:07--5:08--5:09--5:10--5:12--5:13--5:14-
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
---------------------
Temp. °C201815212016222017242219252218242218262318
Feels °C (?)181712181813191813222117232016222015232215
  • 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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Latest Updates

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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

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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 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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