Isla Vista Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the outlook is a bit flat for the most part. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, uninspiring surf with a few hopeful moments buried in the back half. The water at Isla Vista is sitting at 66° right now, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year – a nice little bonus for the skin if nothing else.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Monday morning, the 20th of July. It’s not big, with waves around 3 ft from the south, but the wind is glassy – dead calm – and that makes it the standout of the entire forecast. The swell energy is moderate (466), and the period is a decent 13 seconds, so it’ll have a bit of push. It’s the cleanest window we get, and for a sneaky paddle, that’s the one to chase. The break is a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the west, and it’s often crowded, so expect company.

The rest of the first week is mostly onshore breeze and waist-high slop. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th are basically a washout with marginal, small waves and onshore wind. The swell is too weak to get excited about.

Looking further out, there’s a promising pulse building around Friday the 24th of July. The morning shows a 3 ft south swell with a very long period of 16 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 810 – that’s strong. The wind is light onshore, but that long period means the waves will have real shape and power, especially at a reef or point. This is a classic groundswell setup, so it might be a bit straight for the beach breaks, but the energy is there. Saturday the 25th of July keeps that energy going with a 2 ft swell from the south-southwest and a 21-second period – that’s very long. Combined energy hits 844 (strong). Again, light onshore wind, but the sheer period suggests proper lines. These are the best days in the second week, but they’re a long way off, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

The last couple of days of July into the 31st tail off again. Small, weak, and mostly onshore. Not much to write home about.

For the best on offer: Monday morning the 20th July for clean, glassy little waves if you want a quiet session, or Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th July if you’re willing to gamble on a long-range, powerful groundswell that could be worth the wait.

Rusty.

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