Surf Forecasts:
Fernald Point surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 322 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fernald Point this week:
The surf forecast for Fernald Point over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fernald Point in the next 16 days are 0.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fernald Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what this 16-day stretch has in store for us. Straight up, it's a lean run for Fernald Point. This spot rarely breaks anyway, so a quiet spell isn’t a huge surprise, but the next two weeks are looking particularly flat and uninspiring.
We’ve got a big gap at the start. From Thursday 20th August right through to Monday 25th August, it's pretty much dead. Swell is tiny – we're talking 1.0ft to 1ft – and while the wind is light, it's coming from the SW or WSW, putting us in a cross-onshore position. The combined wave energy is weak, barely breaking 100 (108), and the wave comment is shouting "poor surf conditions." Not a single recommendation in the first six days. You could sit out there on a longboard and hope for a bump, but it ain't gonna be fun.
Things start to get a little more interesting from Wednesday 26th August. The swell picks up to 2ft from the S, and by the afternoon we get a jump in energy to 371 (moderate). The wind stays light and goes cross-shore, which is a big improvement. The wave comment upgrades to "marginal surf" and the period comes in at a reasonable 14 seconds. It's still small, but for a break that rarely works, this is your first real window.
Thursday 27th August keeps that trend going. Morning brings 2ft from the S, and the afternoon sees 3ft from the SSW with a period of 13 seconds and energy at 392. Again, light cross-shore winds in the arvo. This is about as good as it gets in the window. It’s small, clean, and could offer up a few fun lines if the sand has set right. Not a standout in any big sense but it's the pick of a very quiet bunch.
Friday 28th August is similar, with 3ft on the morning session and energy around 280, but the wind is back to a light cross-onshore, so it’s not as clean as the day before.
The weekend of 29th-30th August sees the swell drop back a little, with 2ft to 2ft, but the period gets long – 15 to 17 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, which for a point like Fernald can actually be a good thing if the direction is right. The wind is a steady light cross-onshore though, so it’s not pristine. Still, semi-clean and knee-to-waist high is surfable here when it’s rarely working.
After the 31st August, it fades away again into the first few days of September, with tiny 1.0ft to 1ft waves and the same light cross-onshore wind. Not worth a paddle.
The very end of the forecast, 4th September, shows a 3ft swell from the W with a 10 second period and energy at 304, but with a cross-onshore wind, it's still tagged as poor. There's a glimpse of something bigger from the WNW on the 3rd morning, but it's short-lived.
So, the honest truth? There’s no true standout here. If I had to point you to one moment, it’s Thursday 27th August, afternoon session, at Fernald Point. That 3ft SSW swell with light cross-shore wind and energy near 400, at a point that barely ever runs – that’s your best bet. Next best is maybe Saturday 29th morning with the 2ft SSW groundswell and 17-second period, for a smidge of clean energy. Bring your patience, and a longboard.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
81 | 81 | 79 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 44 | 71 | 33 | 57 | 68 | 70 | 46 | 71 | 69 | 66 | 84 | 150 | 218 | 322 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 4:18PM1.81m | 8:37AM1.35m | 5:29PM1.84m | 8:52AM1.42m | 6:28PM1.91m | 9:10AM1.47m | 7:15PM1.99m | 9:28AM1.51m | 7:56PM2.07m | 9:46AM1.56m | 8:32PM2.13m | 10:06AM1.62m | 9:08PM2.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:41AM0.61m | 10:36AM1.34m | 1:32AM0.51m | 12:13PM1.32m | 2:11AM0.41m | 1:09PM1.25m | 2:43AM0.34m | 1:50PM1.17m | 3:12AM0.28m | 2:27PM1.08m | 3:39AM0.26m | 3:03PM0.99m | 4:04AM0.27m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 30 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 5 | W 8 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 14 | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 14 | S 13 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
14 | 81 | 21 | 9 | 11 | 32 | 15 | 9 | 32 | 14 | 32 | 22 | 21 | 41 | 27 | 22 | 61 | 84 | 35 | 218 | 322 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 11 | W 6 |
81 | 9 | 79 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 14 | 71 | 14 | 57 | 68 | 70 | 46 | 58 | 69 | 66 | 64 | 150 | 60 | 52 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | W 16 | W 16 | SW 16 | W 13 | W 13 |
13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 44 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 14 | 71 | 58 | 21 | 19 | 39 | 32 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 3 | — | — | W 4 | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | WNW 6 |
— | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 11 | 57 | — | — | 50 | 31 | 21 | 78 | 51 | 50 | 34 | 55 | 61 | 109 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 294 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Fernald Point Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Fernald Point provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fernald Point can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fernald Point 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 (Fernald Point) 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 Fernald Point 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.
Fernald Point is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Santa Ana. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Santa Ana. Santa Ana has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











