Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 559 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 4s 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 0.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) 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 0.8m 14s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Isla Vista are looking pretty flat, so we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The water is sitting at 67° which is about 5° warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a real treat for the skin if you can get in for a paddle, but the waves are the problem.
The first few days are a write-off. We’re looking at a long gap of poor surf with no real recommendations until the middle of the week. Monday the 20th through to Thursday the 23rd of July are all dirty, small, and onshore. The wind is just junk, mostly cross-onshore, and the swell is tiny with weak energy (combined energy in the 160-400 range). Not worth the wetsuit.
Friday the 24th of July morning shows a glimmer, but it’s still a marginal call. There’s a very long period swell (24 seconds) coming from the SSW, but the height is only 2 ft and the combined energy is moderate (784). That long period will make for some clean lines at the point, but it’s a gamble on the tide.
The real standout, the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Tuesday the 28th of July. The afternoon session is the best we’ve got. The wind goes glassy, absolutely dead calm, and the swell is 3 ft from the SSW with a period of 17 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with decent shape. The combined energy is moderate (671). It’s at Isla Vista, a beach and reef set-up, so that long period will favour the reef and the point. It’s very rare to get glassy conditions like that, so even though the size is small, the quality will be pure. The crowds are often here, so you’ll have company, but on a glassy afternoon like that, it’ll be worth it.
After that, Wednesday the 29th of July morning has a little bump of 4 ft from the WNW, but it’s only a 10-second period, so a bit fat and lumpy. Still, a slight offshore wind could make it fun for a quick paddle. The rest of the window into early August fades back into tiny, weak surf with combined energy dropping below 100. It’s not looking great for the first week of August, but forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 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) | S 11 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 6 | S 13 | SSW 24 | S 13 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 163 | 122 | 99 | 186 | 252 | 160 | 218 | 276 | 136 | 125 | 122 | 212 | 368 | 219 | 305 | 404 | 288 | 480 | 384 | 327 | 319 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:39PM1.86m | 4:21AM1.26m | 4:27PM1.87m | 6:26AM1.22m | 5:17PM1.89m | 8:06AM1.27m | 6:06PM1.92m | 9:02AM1.34m | 6:53PM1.97m | 9:37AM1.39m | 7:36PM2.03m | 10:04AM1.43m | 8:16PM2.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:40AM0.77m | 10:46PM0.83m | 9:19AM0.96m | 00:07AM0.71m | 10:07AM1.11m | 1:11AM0.58m | 11:12AM1.20m | 1:59AM0.47m | 12:20PM1.24m | 2:39AM0.37m | 1:15PM1.23m | 3:14AM0.29m | 2:00PM1.20m | 3:47AM0.23m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 24 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 13 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | S 12 | WNW 8 | S 12 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 163 | 116 | 99 | 186 | 252 | 160 | 218 | 276 | 222 | 273 | 236 | 212 | 84 | 91 | 193 | 94 | 139 | 62 | 83 | 327 | 319 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 21 | S 12 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 118 | 122 | 49 | 51 | 93 | 47 | 21 | 22 | 136 | 125 | 71 | 68 | 273 | 219 | 305 | 141 | 288 | 480 | 384 | 71 | 46 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | W 4 | S 16 | WNW 13 | S 15 | WNW 13 | SW 20 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 26 | SW 18 | SSW 24 | SW 24 | SW 16 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 10 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 69 | 69 | 9 | 127 | 34 | 112 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 105 | 49 | 368 | 141 | 10 | 404 | 143 | 107 | 78 | 10 | 48 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 9 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | — | 25 | 10 | 3 | 19 | 24 | 21 | 87 | 48 | 29 | 122 | 104 | 59 | — | 86 | 64 | 89 | — | — | 96 | 81 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 150 | 78 | 0 | 53 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 311 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 150 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 19 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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