Surf Forecasts:
Fernald Point surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 146 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. 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 0.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fernald Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the surf prospects for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and messy groundswell that just isn't gonna give us anything worth paddling out for. The whole 16-day window kicks off with a big gap of nothing. Honestly, from now until the very end of the month, it's just poor surf conditions every single day at Fernald Point. We're talking tiny waves, mainly around 1.3ft to 2.0ft, with a persistent cross-onshore breeze messing up the surface. The swell energy is low, mostly sitting between 72 and 197, just a weak pulse. Don't even think about it. The water is about average for this time of year.
Now, the only flicker of hope, and I mean a tiny flicker, shows up way out there. On Saturday, the 29th of August, things get a bit more interesting. The combined swell energy jumps into the moderate range, hitting 436 that morning, and we see a solid groundswell coming in from the SSW with a long period of 18 seconds. The swell height stays small, around 2.6ft, but that long-period energy can sometimes wrap into a point break like Fernald Point and offer something cleaner. The issue is the wind is still cross-onshore, so it won't be perfect. The score only hit a 1 out of 10, so it's marginal at best, but it's the closest thing to a highlight we've got all window.
Then Sunday the 30th hangs in there with similar 2.6ft SSW swell and that long 16-second period, but again, that cross-onshore breeze is a problem. By Monday the 1st of September, it's back to the same old tiny, weak, cross-onshore slop.
So, the bottom line? There are zero standouts in this forecast. Right now, there are no good options. For a spot like Fernald Point that rarely breaks anyway, a long blank run like this isn't a total shock. Keep your expectations on the floor, and check back in case the forecasts shift. This is one to skip.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 11 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 140 | 116 | 146 | 68 | 81 | 130 | 138 | 85 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 35 | 58 | 40 | 60 | 43 | 71 | 50 | 57 | 68 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | 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 | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:19AM1.35m | 2:18PM1.87m | 4:15AM1.22m | 3:10PM1.83m | 4:18PM1.81m | 8:37AM1.35m | 5:29PM1.84m | 8:52AM1.42m | 6:28PM1.91m | 9:10AM1.47m | 7:15PM1.99m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:31PM0.77m | 7:24AM0.98m | 9:55PM0.77m | 7:46AM1.14m | 11:27PM0.71m | 00:41AM0.61m | 10:36AM1.34m | 1:32AM0.51m | 12:13PM1.32m | 2:11AM0.41m | 1:09PM1.25m | 2:43AM0.34m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | W 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 7 | W 11 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 13 | W 5 |
| kJ | 140 | 30 | 32 | 40 | 49 | 44 | 29 | 21 | 30 | 81 | 79 | 17 | 58 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 15 | 9 | 57 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 8 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | W 5 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 7 | 116 | 146 | 68 | 81 | 130 | 138 | 85 | 81 | 18 | 11 | 35 | 58 | 34 | 33 | 43 | 71 | 33 | 5 | 68 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | W 9 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 9 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 10 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 12 | WNW 10 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 2 | 7 | 2 | 44 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 9 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 5 | — | W 6 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | W 5 |
| kJ | 11 | 53 | — | 36 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 21 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 75 | 6 | 0 | 131 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 75 | 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.
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