Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, WNW swell with 401 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period with WNW 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 17s 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 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s get into it.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a flat spell ahead for Isla Vista. The next week and a half is mostly small, messy, and not doing much to get the heart pumping. The water’s sitting at about 64°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s something, I guess.
The only window that even looks close to worth paddling out is Thursday afternoon, July 9th. We’ve got a glassy surface – that’s a major positive – and some mid-period WNW groundswell pushing in around 5ft. The combined energy is moderate (538), so there’s some push behind it, but the swell direction isn’t quite the optimum W that this spot prefers. Still, that’s your best chance for a clean, fun wave on a longboard or a fish.
Friday the 10th is looking marginal, with a bit of height early but nothing exciting. Morning has 3ft from the WNW with a light offshore, but the energy drops to 363 – it’s just not got the beans. The long period SSW swell (15 seconds) shows up Friday afternoon but at a tiny 2ft, so it’s more of a ghost than a real wave.
After that, from Saturday the 11th right through to the 17th, it’s a real slog. Swell stays stubbornly under 3ft, winds are mostly onshore or cross-on, and the scores reflect that – lots of “poor surf conditions” days. Even the glassy morning on Tuesday the 14th only manages 2ft with short period (8 seconds) and weak energy (137). It’s surfable, but only just.
There’s a little flicker of promise way out on Saturday morning, July 18th, with a long-period groundswell (17 seconds) from the WNW, but it’s only 2ft. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 433, which suggests more power than the height implies, but it’s such a small wave that it’s really only going to appeal to someone on a big board who just needs to get wet. That kind of period is better suited to a point or reef than a beach and reef setup like Isla Vista anyway.
Honestly, for this stretch, if you’re really keen, pencil in that glassy Thursday afternoon on the 9th. Everything else is either too small, too choppy, or just plain flat.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 343 | 286 | 188 | 259 | 287 | 211 | 173 | 169 | 167 | 172 | 120 | 111 | 163 | 116 | 104 | 139 | 141 | 68 | 67 | 50 | 119 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:52PM1.97m | 6:32AM1.23m | 5:42PM2.10m | 8:00AM1.30m | 6:35PM2.24m | 9:03AM1.38m | 7:29PM2.37m | 9:53AM1.46m | 8:23PM2.47m | 10:38AM1.52m | 9:15PM2.51m | 11:20AM1.58m | 10:06PM2.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:54PM1.11m | 3:56AM-0.12m | 2:53PM1.07m | 4:42AM-0.16m | 3:49PM1.03m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 24 | 28 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 343 | 232 | 188 | 259 | 287 | 211 | 173 | 129 | 99 | 94 | 68 | 53 | 79 | 62 | 64 | 58 | 62 | 64 | 67 | 50 | 119 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 66 | 66 | 175 | 173 | 169 | 121 | 118 | 169 | 167 | 172 | 120 | 111 | 163 | 116 | 104 | 139 | 141 | 68 | 26 | 27 | 109 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SE 10 | S 18 | S 20 | S 16 | S 18 | S 18 | S 15 | S 16 | W 16 | SW 19 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 93 | 91 | 82 | 79 | 72 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 67 | 45 | 20 | 59 | 26 | 44 | 49 | 56 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 9 | — | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 202 | 286 | 97 | — | — | 165 | — | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 78 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 0 | 135 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 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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