Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period, S swell with 595 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s 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 (Sep 04) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. 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 1.3m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 14s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the next 16 days are a mixed bag, and honestly, the first few days are a write-off. We’re looking at a real drought of quality surf, with mostly light cross-onshore breezes and small, short-period slop. The combined wave energy is weak, reading under 300 (281) for the first Friday afternoon, and it stays weak for days. The water is much warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 70°, which is a solid 6° above the average – that's a very unusual anomaly.
We finally see a bit of a pulse from Monday, the 7th of September. The swell jumps up a bit to 4ft-4ft from the S, with a moderate period (13-14 seconds) and the combined energy hits a solid 570 to 642. The wind is light and onshore though, which is a major positive because it will keep things glassy and clean. This is the best the week has to offer, but it's still a marginal call with questionable tide conditions.
The standout window, and I mean the only real one that gets the blood pumping, is Thursday afternoon, the 10th of September. The swell builds to 5ft from the SW with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 720. The wind is light and onshore, which is great news. This is your best bet for a decent session, but keep in mind the 5ft height might be a bit much for beginners.
Looking further out, the second week looks pretty grim. The swell drops off again, with a lot of small, confused windswell from the WNW. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, creating choppy conditions. On Saturday the 19th of September, the swell gets big – 8ft from the WNW – but with a period of only 7 seconds, it’s basically a choppy, blown-out mess. The combined energy hits 751, but the poor quality means this is for experts only, and even then, the short period makes it a challenge. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing at that point.
So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Thursday afternoon, the 10th, with a clean 5ft swell. The rest of the window is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | SW 10 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 240 | 255 | 242 | 201 | 196 | 144 | 142 | 104 | 515 | 595 | 466 | 362 | 330 | 265 | 109 | 203 | 197 | 247 | 498 | 255 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:43PM1.97m | 7:35AM1.36m | 5:08PM2.02m | 8:08AM1.47m | 6:21PM2.11m | 8:37AM1.57m | 7:22PM2.19m | 9:07AM1.68m | 8:15PM2.22m | 9:36AM1.79m | 9:03PM2.19m | 10:04AM1.88m | 9:50PM2.10m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:02AM0.40m | 10:25AM1.29m | 1:04AM0.26m | 12:07PM1.22m | 1:52AM0.16m | 1:16PM1.09m | 2:34AM0.11m | 2:11PM0.93m | 3:11AM0.12m | 3:00PM0.78m | 3:45AM0.19m | 3:47PM0.66m | 4:17AM0.32m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 23 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSE 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 10 | SW 9 |
| kJ | 240 | 255 | 242 | 201 | 198 | 400 | 372 | 350 | 515 | 595 | 466 | 362 | 330 | 265 | 109 | 203 | 74 | 247 | 498 | 172 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 10 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 113 | 131 | 152 | 192 | 196 | 144 | 142 | 104 | 15 | 14 | 31 | 13 | 49 | 68 | 70 | 138 | 197 | 235 | 211 | 255 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | SSW 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SW 11 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | SW 10 | SW 9 | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | WNW 12 |
| kJ | 38 | 51 | 70 | 45 | 18 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 3 | — | 13 | 50 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 78 | 13 | 11 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 4 | NW 8 | W 3 | WNW 4 | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 5 | — | 41 | 10 | — | — | 15 | 37 | 33 | 9 | 17 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 135 | 2 | 0 | 135 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 74 | 135 | 40 |
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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