Isla Vista Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what we’ve got on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we’re looking at Isla Vista (United States). It’s a beach and reef setup, and it’s fairly consistent, but I gotta be honest with you—the next week or so looks tough. There’s plenty of swell running, but the wind is just a mess. Most of the early days are plagued with cross-onshore or onshore breezes, making the surf real choppy and ugly. The swell is mostly coming from the SW, with some WNW mixed in, running anywhere from 2ft to 5ft, but the quality just isn't there. The period is very long on Tuesday the 7th, at 18 seconds—that South swell has some serious energy (combined energy of 526, moderate) but the onshore wind is killing it. Wednesday the 8th sees the swell jump to 5ft in the afternoon, but with short period (7 seconds) and onshore wind, it’s just a jumbled mess.

We do finally get a break in the clouds on Monday the 13th. The morning session is looking like a goer—glassy conditions, with 2ft from the SSW and long 13-second period energy (combined energy 207). That’s weak energy, sure, but glassy wind and a long period means the lines could be pretty. It’s just a teaser though, because it goes back to onshore right after.

The real standout doesn’t come until Saturday the 18th. That morning is looking clean with a cross-offshore breeze from the ESE, and about 3ft of WNW groundswell with 9 seconds of period. The combined energy jumps up to 436 (moderate). That’s a huge improvement—real clean conditions at last. Then the afternoon goes glassy, with a little 2ft bump from the SW, with an amazing 18-second period and 448 combined energy. That’s the one. That glassy, long-period SW groundswell in the afternoon is going to be the best we see over this whole stretch. It’s a point break and reef-friendly swell, so that long period will wrap in beautifully.

Between now and then, there are big gaps of poor surf. From the 7th through the 12th, it’s a write-off. Then it’s just flip-flopping between marginal and poor until the 18th. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

So, to sum it up: The 18th is your day. The morning for clean, cross-offshore WNW lines, and the afternoon for glassy, long-period South swell. That’s the pick of the month.

Rusty.

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