Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, WNW swell with 495 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period with SSW 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. 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 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. I gotta be straight with ya – this is a tough one. Looking at the next 16 days for Isla Vista, it’s shaping up to be a proper flat spell. There are no good surf options on the table for the entire forecast period, so we’re staring down a long stretch of nothing.
We kick off on Friday the 10th with a tiny bit of WNW swell around 3 ft, but it’s onshore and the wave comment tells us it’s marginal at best. The combined energy is weak (322). Water temp is sitting at 63°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than average for this time of year – a nice little anomaly for a swim, but not for surfing. From there, it goes downhill fast. For the next week and a half, we see wave heights mostly under 3 ft, with periods all over the shop from short 8-second junk to long 18-second lines that just don’t have any size. The wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, and the “poor surf conditions” tag is a constant companion.
Even into the second week, from the 17th of July onward, the swell stays tiny – 1 ft to 2 ft. There are some long-period groundswells (17-18 seconds) but with that minimal height, they’re not going to break with any push. The combined energy does creep up into the 300s and low 400s, but it’s all that deep-water energy that doesn’t translate to the beach. By the 24th, we’re down to 0.7 ft with a 24-second period, which is just open ocean slosh.
Look, Isla Vista is a beach and reef setup that’s fairly exposed, and it tends not to stay this poor for long. Forecasts can change, but right now, this blank run is a bit of a reality check for the area. If you’re a kite surfer, some of those afternoons with a clean 9 mph westerly and a bit of chop might be more interesting than paddling out. For the rest of us, it’s a time to wax the longboard and watch the horizon.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 132 | 169 | 167 | 172 | 118 | 152 | 134 | 136 | 104 | 139 | 141 | 68 | 53 | 87 | 109 | 162 | 322 | 202 | 202 | 184 | 144 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 12:03PM1.64m | 10:56PM2.37m | 12:45PM1.70m | 11:46PM2.18m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:26AM-0.12m | 4:46PM0.99m | 6:08AM-0.01m | 5:45PM0.97m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 31 | 31 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | S 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 132 | 101 | 111 | 68 | 45 | 152 | 134 | 136 | 104 | 139 | 141 | 46 | 53 | 52 | 103 | 162 | 68 | 97 | 202 | 88 | 144 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 12 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WNW 19 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 118 | 169 | 167 | 172 | 118 | 39 | 30 | 31 | 22 | 43 | 43 | 68 | 26 | 49 | 109 | 77 | 11 | 188 | 89 | 72 | 92 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SE 10 | S 18 | S 19 | S 16 | S 18 | S 14 | S 15 | W 4 | W 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | W 14 | W 14 | SW 16 | WNW 20 | S 12 | WNW 19 |
| kJ | 72 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 37 | 67 | 4 | 20 | 59 | 59 | 44 | 15 | 56 | 15 | 15 | 90 | 38 | 11 | 69 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 87 | 53 | — | 322 | 202 | — | 184 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 135 | 150 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 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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