Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, WNW swell with 392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s 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 06) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 21s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Isla Vista in the next 16 days are 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 9s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 6th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here with the lowdown on Isla Vista. It’s a lean few weeks ahead, I won’t sugarcoat it. The water’s a touch warmer than usual, sitting about 64°F, but that’s about the only thing in our favor.
We’re looking at a slow start. The first hint of anything on offer is Thursday morning, July 9th. There’s a little 4-foot swell from the WNW with a 9-second period, but it’s barely a “marginal” call. The morning looks clean though.
The one bright spot in this whole run is Friday morning, July 10th. The wind goes glassy – dead flat calm – and there’s still a 3-foot swell from the WNW with that 9-second interval. For a beach and reef break like Isla Vista, glassy conditions are a total game-changer. The combined wave energy is moderate (334), and it’ll be clean. The swell direction isn’t a perfect match for the optimum west, but when it’s that clean, you won’t care. This is an intermediate spot and it’s often crowded, so be ready to share the lineup.
After that, it’s back to small, choppy surf. Saturday morning, July 11th, is a tiny 2-foot groundswell from the SSW with a long 15-second period, but the wind goes cross-shore and it’ll be bumpy. The rest of the week is small, with heights barely hitting 3 feet and winds staying onshore or cross-onshore. There’s a weird little window on July 16th with a 1-foot swell and a very long 21-second period from the WNW, but that long period groundswell will have a hard time lining up on a beach break – you’d want a point or a reef for that. The energy is only moderate (322), so keep expectations low.
Bottom line: point your truck toward Isla Vista for glassy conditions on Friday morning, July 10th. Everything else is a wait-and-see.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 176 | 121 | 229 | 171 | 171 | 298 | 319 | 356 | 276 | 339 | 268 | 211 | 265 | 260 | 260 | 177 | 144 | 167 | 172 | 118 | 154 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:54PM1.63m | 1:36AM1.55m | 3:28PM1.73m | 2:52AM1.37m | 4:07PM1.84m | 4:39AM1.25m | 4:52PM1.97m | 6:32AM1.23m | 5:42PM2.10m | 8:00AM1.30m | 6:35PM2.24m | 9:03AM1.38m | 7:29PM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:24PM1.15m | 8:23AM0.65m | 9:50PM1.04m | 8:57AM0.78m | 11:15PM0.85m | 9:41AM0.91m | 00:27AM0.62m | 10:37AM1.03m | 1:26AM0.38m | 11:44AM1.10m | 2:19AM0.16m | 12:52PM1.13m | 3:08AM-0.01m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 22 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 176 | 121 | 229 | 171 | 171 | 223 | 319 | 356 | 276 | 197 | 232 | 97 | 265 | 260 | 260 | 177 | 132 | 73 | 72 | 49 | 154 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | S 18 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | S 19 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 9 |
| kJ | 58 | 58 | 91 | 153 | 154 | 298 | 103 | 84 | 54 | 339 | 66 | 184 | 173 | 169 | 121 | 116 | 144 | 167 | 172 | 118 | 38 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | WNW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NW 12 | WNW 12 | S 10 | WNW 12 | S 19 | S 9 | SSW 16 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 18 | S 18 | S 20 | S 16 | S 18 |
| kJ | 15 | 14 | 15 | 28 | 28 | 37 | 27 | 2 | 13 | 66 | 2 | 175 | 91 | 82 | 79 | 41 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 24 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 24 | 52 | 37 | 95 | 131 | 102 | 212 | 203 | — | 268 | 211 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 311 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 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.
Isla Vista is 1 km (1 miles) from Isla Vista. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Isla Vista. Isla Vista has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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