Isla Vista Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

First up, I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty lean run. The water’s sitting at a very unusual 69°, which is a solid 6° warmer than the usual for this time of year. It feels like a bath out there, but that’s about the only thing that’s pumping.

The first bit of action that’s even worth a mention kicks off Saturday the 25th of July into the next week. We’re talkin’ small, clean little waves. The swell is tiny at 2ft to 3ft, mostly from the SSW and SW. The standout is the long period on this swell – 21 seconds dropping to 15 seconds – which is proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate (between 407 and 706). The problem is that at Isla Vista, a beach and reef setup, these long-period swells can sometimes break too straight. The wind is light and mostly onshore, which keeps it from getting choppy, but it’s not proper offshore. The forecast is calling these “marginal” conditions, and the scores are low. It’s really just something to get wet on.

Then, from around the 31st of July right through to the 9th of August, the outlook turns pretty grim. The swell drops off completely, with heights mostly below 3ft and periods crashing down to a short, weak 5 to 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak, often under 200 (like 171 down to 58). The wind is light but cross-onshore, and the surf quality is flagged as “poor” with scores of 0. It’s a flat spell, plain and simple. There’s a little blip of longer period swell (14-18 seconds) around the 5th and 7th of August, but the swell height is only 1.0ft to 2ft, so it’ll be barely a ripple. The energy is weak (58 to 163).

The best on offer? Honestly, the absolute pick of a very poor bunch is the small window between Saturday the 25th and Monday the 27th of July. The mornings will be the cleanest, with that light onshore breeze. The swell is small, but that long period means there’s a bit of push. It’s not a standout by any means – just the least worst option for a paddle.

So, overall, it’s a tough forecast. For the next week and a half, we’re looking at a long gap of poor conditions. There’s a patch of very small, marginal surf from the 25th to the 27th, and then a big blank run. It’s not a classic time for Isla Vista.

Rusty.

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