Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 19s period, SSW swell with 212 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s 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 0.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at the next 16 days for Isla Vista. To be honest, it’s a tough run ahead. The waves are tiny and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is a real shame because the water is sitting at 70°F, which is a massive 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a real treat for the skin, but you’ll be doing more floating than surfing.
For Monday the 3rd, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the WNW with a 9-second period, but the wind is howling straight onshore from the WSW at 6 mph. The combined energy is a weak 169 (ft), and it’s just poor. Tuesday the 4th sees the swell drop to 1.0ft from the SSW, still with onshore winds. The combined energy falls to a pathetic 67 (ft). Nothing to get out of bed for.
Wednesday the 5th through to the end of the first week is more of the same – tiny 1.0ft to 1ft swells, mostly from the SW or SSW. The wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, keeping things messy. Even the longer period swells that pop up, like the 19-second groundswell on Friday the 7th, can’t do anything with the lack of height. The combined energy peaks at 194 (ft) on Friday afternoon, but it’s still labelled as poor.
The second week isn’t offering any real relief either. From Monday the 10th to Sunday the 16th, we’re stuck with 1ft to 2ft swells. The longest period we see is 18 seconds from the SSW on Tuesday the 11th, but again, it’s just too small. The wind rarely gives us a break. On Saturday the 15th morning, we get a marginal rating with a 2ft swell from the SSW and a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a moderate 338 (ft). The wind is light and onshore, so it’s at least clean, but the waves are still tiny. This is the closest we get to a standout, but it’s a real long shot.
Then from Monday the 17th into Tuesday the 18th, the swell drops back to 1ft to 2ft with onshore and cross-onshore winds. The combined energy is moderate, up to 208 (ft), but the surf is still poor.
Honestly, for the next 16 days, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The waves are too small, the wind is wrong, and the whole setup is flat and frustrating. It’s a blank run for Isla Vista. Keep your board in the car and wait for a change.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 17 | S 18 | SW 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 86 | 118 | 28 | 34 | 99 | 51 | 31 | 56 | 45 | 44 | 63 | 94 | 143 | 75 | 97 | 65 | 125 | 125 | 121 | 153 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:30AM1.44m | 2:17PM1.85m | 2:54AM1.26m | 3:07PM1.92m | 5:09AM1.17m | 4:08PM1.99m | 7:18AM1.23m | 5:17PM2.09m | 8:21AM1.34m | 6:24PM2.20m | 9:02AM1.44m | 7:24PM2.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:01PM0.90m | 7:23AM0.79m | 9:22PM0.82m | 7:54AM0.94m | 10:54PM0.69m | 8:38AM1.08m | 00:16AM0.50m | 10:00AM1.18m | 1:19AM0.30m | 11:40AM1.21m | 2:11AM0.13m | 12:58PM1.16m | 2:57AM0.01m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | W 8 | SW 14 | W 5 | W 4 | SW 13 | W 5 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | WNW 4 | SW 17 | WNW 6 | W 4 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 86 | 118 | 18 | 29 | 99 | 33 | 31 | 22 | 6 | 44 | 16 | 43 | 143 | 7 | 75 | 14 | 10 | 125 | 47 | 45 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 20 | SW 13 | W 5 | SW 13 | SW 17 | S 18 | SW 16 | S 16 | WNW 7 | SSW 15 | S 14 |
| kJ | 42 | 37 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 51 | 13 | 56 | 45 | 37 | 44 | 8 | 42 | 75 | 97 | 65 | 125 | 31 | 121 | 153 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | W 16 | SSW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 20 | WNW 9 | SSW 18 | SW 19 | W 5 | SW 13 | W 5 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 |
| kJ | 41 | 40 | 28 | 34 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 8 | 63 | 94 | 4 | 42 | 8 | 46 | 98 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 4 | — | W 6 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | — | — | W 4 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | WNW 4 | ESE 2 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 15 | — | 25 | 18 | 9 | 17 | — | — | 8 | 12 | — | 5 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 53 | 36 | 0 | 53 | 83 | 0 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 150 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 2 | 0 | 135 | 53 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Isla Vista surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest