Isla Vista Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a quiet stretch for Isla Vista. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out period of small, weak surf. The first week is mostly ankle-to-knee-high stuff with minimal energy, and it doesn’t get much better after that. There’s a gap of several days here where the surf is just not worth paddling out for, and the options are thin.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Saturday, July 25th. The morning shows a clean sky and a light breeze, but the swell is tiny at 2 ft from the SSW. The period is a very long 21 seconds, which is a proper groundswell, but the combined energy is only moderate (535). This long period at a beach-and-reef setup like Isla Vista can mean waves that are a bit too straight, making it tricky. It’s a poor surf condition though, so don’t expect much.

Sunday the 26th through Tuesday the 29th are all “marginal” at best. Swell sizes hover around 2 ft to 3 ft, with periods dropping from 19 seconds down to 16 seconds. The winds are light and onshore, mostly from the SW or WSW, so the surface won’t be glassy. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there. The best of this mediocre bunch is Monday morning, July 27th, with a 3 ft SSW swell, 18-second period, and moderate wave energy (706). It’s still marginal, but it’s the only one that gets a score of 2 out of 10.

From Wednesday, July 30th, right through to the end of the forecast on Sunday, August 9th, the surf drops off significantly. We’re looking at 1.0 ft to 2 ft waves, mostly from the SW or S, with weak energy (values between 83 and 241). The wind stays light and onshore, so it’s flat and choppy. There’s a brief blip on Friday, July 31st afternoon where the swell pops to 4 ft from the S, but it’s with a short period of 14 seconds and poor surf conditions, so it’s not going to be any good.

The one to keep an eye on, if you’re desperate, is Monday morning, July 27th, but even that’s a stretch. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a disappointing run. It’s the kind of stretch where you might as well leave the board in the car and watch the horizon. Forecasts can change though, so don’t write it off completely.

Rusty.

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