Fernald Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.42° N 119.62° W

Fernald Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Fernald Point sea temperature is
20.6° C
3.2° 

Fernald Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


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 TypeTime (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 Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
13
0.7
W
6
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SW
17
0.4
SW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.5
S
13
0.7
S
12
0.7
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
81
81
79
35
34
34
33
44
71
33
57
68
70
46
71
69
66
84
150
218
322
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
10
SW
0
E
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
15
WSW
10
N
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NE
Wind State
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
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
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>
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
  • 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
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Fernald Point:

join our community of surf reporters

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 Fernald Point 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.


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.

Nearest locationNearest