Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSW swell with 584 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 24s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Isla Vista this week:
The surf forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 24s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Isla Vista in the next 16 days are 0.8m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 16s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 24s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 21s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's break down this Isla Vista forecast, and it's a rough one.
Straight up, the next 16 days are a total bust. We're looking at a long, dry spell with hardly a wave worth paddling out for. The energy is weak, the swell is tiny, and the conditions just aren't playing ball. It's one of those stretches where you might as well find something else to do. The forecast is just plain bleak.
The first real chance, and I'm being generous, is on Friday, July 24th. Isla Vista is a beach and reef setup, and it's fairly consistent, but it's not going to be doing much. We're looking at a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, with a very long period of 24 seconds. That's a groundswell, but with so little height, it's barely a ripple. The combined energy is weak at 645. The wind is a light onshore breeze from the SW, which is a bummer, keeping things a little messy. The water is a balmy 69.6°, which is a whopping 7.2° warmer than normal for this time of year – really unusual, feels like a bath.
We limp through the next few days with the same story. The swell stays below 3ft, and the wind is mostly onshore. Saturday and Sunday, the 25th and 26th, offer nothing but tiny, poor waves. By Monday the 27th, we get a tiny bump in the swell to about 3ft from the SSW with a period of 18 seconds, but the energy is still moderate (707) and the onshore wind kills it. It's a marginal surf, at best.
The second week doesn't get any better. From July 30th right through to August 8th, the forecast is a desert of poor surf conditions. The swell heights consistently hover around 1ft to 2.5ft, and the period drops right down to the 8-9 second range by the end of July and early August. The energy values are in the double digits or low triple digits, which is just plain weak. The wind is a mix of onshore and cross-shore light breezes, but it's all pointless with no swell. There's nothing here.
The only slight glimmer is on Saturday, August 1st. The swell jumps to 4ft from the S with a period of 14 seconds. The energy is moderate at 722. But again, the wind is onshore from the SW, so it's going to be a messy, blown-out mess. For a beach and reef setup, that's just not a good look. It's the best of a bad bunch, but it's still not a good day.
Bottom line: clear the calendar. There's no quality surf on the horizon for Isla Vista. The whole 16-day period is a write-off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 368 | 141 | 467 | 404 | 288 | 546 | 384 | 327 | 399 | 559 | 325 | 377 | 358 | 569 | 321 | 206 | 223 | 164 | 156 | 121 | 120 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross | on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:02AM1.34m | 6:53PM1.97m | 9:37AM1.39m | 7:36PM2.03m | 10:04AM1.43m | 8:16PM2.10m | 10:30AM1.46m | 8:53PM2.15m | 10:56AM1.49m | 9:29PM2.17m | 11:22AM1.52m | 10:03PM2.15m | 11:48AM1.56m | 10:37PM2.09m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:20PM1.24m | 2:39AM0.37m | 1:15PM1.23m | 3:14AM0.29m | 2:00PM1.20m | 3:47AM0.23m | 2:39PM1.15m | 4:18AM0.20m | 3:16PM1.11m | 4:48AM0.19m | 3:54PM1.07m | 5:16AM0.22m | 4:33PM1.04m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 22 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 26 | 29 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | SSW 21 | SW 19 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 17 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 112 | 91 | 69 | 104 | 288 | 546 | 130 | 327 | 399 | 140 | 325 | 291 | 202 | 569 | 321 | 189 | 120 | 137 | 103 | 253 | 261 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | S 10 | S 12 | SW 19 | SSE 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 165 | 116 | 467 | 404 | 18 | 43 | 384 | 11 | 12 | 559 | 129 | 377 | 358 | 373 | 274 | 206 | 223 | 183 | 257 | 67 | 47 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 24 | SW 24 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 18 | S 20 | S 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 368 | 141 | 67 | 44 | 14 | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 98 | 67 | 81 | 154 | 191 | 164 | 156 | 121 | 120 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 101 | 100 | — | 127 | 198 | — | 232 | 190 | — | 249 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 144 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 24 | 0 | 53 | 150 | 0 | 135 | 115 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Isla Vista Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Isla Vista provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Isla Vista can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Isla Vista 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 (Isla Vista) 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 Isla Vista 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.
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