Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with 334 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s 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 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the surf outlook for Isla Vista (beach and reef).
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this 16-day window is a tough one. For the first week and a half, we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing. The water is running much warmer than normal for this time of year at 70°, which is a solid 7° above average – that’s very unusual.
From now through the end of the first week, the swell is tiny, mostly around 1ft to 2ft from the SSW/SW, with a long period of 14-18 seconds. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting between 145 and 350 (weak to moderate). The wind is mostly light cross-onshore or onshore, keeping things messy. It’s all poor surf conditions – barely a ripple. There’s a gap of several days here with no real recommendations.
We start to see a tiny flicker of hope on Saturday morning, August 15th, and Sunday morning, August 16th. The swell picks up to 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 16 seconds. The energy is moderate (364 and 337), and the wind is light and onshore. It’s marginal at best, and only for the early hours. The afternoons are a write-off with cross-onshore breezes.
The pattern continues through the next week. Monday, August 17th, and Tuesday, August 18th, are back to tiny 1ft to 2ft swell with poor wind. The exception is on Wednesday afternoon, August 19th. A short-period, 7ft swell from the WNW hits with a period of just 6 seconds and a strong cross-shore wind of 12 mph. The energy is strong (510), but the conditions are poor – it’s a choppy, blown-out mess. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.
The rest of the second week limps along with tiny swells, mostly 1ft to 2ft from the SSW/SW, with light onshore or cross-onshore winds. The energy stays weak to moderate. Thursday afternoon, August 20th, sees a 5ft WNW swell with a 6-second period, but again, it’s choppy and poor.
Honestly, for Isla Vista, this is a blank run. The break is fairly consistent, but the forecasts are just not lining up. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, wind-affected surf. The one standout, if you can call it that, is Wednesday, August 19th, with the biggest swell, but it’s a short-period, wind-blown mess. Keep your expectations low and check back – forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 79 | 123 | 121 | 109 | 127 | 125 | 122 | 160 | 154 | 104 | 180 | 240 | 298 | 295 | 318 | 306 | 272 | 211 | 214 | 140 | 140 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 10:12AM1.62m | 9:09PM2.41m | 10:46AM1.71m | 9:58PM2.34m | 11:20AM1.78m | 10:45PM2.20m | 11:54AM1.84m | 11:32PM2.00m | 12:29PM1.88m | 00:20AM1.77m | 1:03PM1.89m | 1:15AM1.53m | 1:40PM1.88m | 2:25AM1.33m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:57PM0.96m | 4:19AM-0.04m | 3:49PM0.87m | 4:56AM0.04m | 4:41PM0.80m | 5:30AM0.19m | 5:33PM0.75m | 6:03AM0.37m | 6:28PM0.74m | 6:34AM0.58m | 7:27PM0.75m | 7:02AM0.78m | 8:36PM0.76m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | W 10 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 79 | 123 | 51 | 109 | 127 | 125 | 122 | 160 | 154 | 104 | 180 | 240 | 298 | 295 | 318 | 306 | 272 | 211 | 214 | 140 | 140 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | W 4 | SW 13 | S 10 | W 5 | WNW 10 | SW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 11 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 15 | 33 | 121 | 16 | 16 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 140 | 100 | 10 | 61 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | S 12 | SSE 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | S 9 | S 11 | SW 13 | S 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | S 18 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 51 | 25 | 14 | 27 | 44 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 75 | 87 | 16 | 20 | 44 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 16 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | — | 22 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | 14 | 14 | 12 | 28 | 17 | 8 | 24 | 22 | 15 | 61 | 48 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 220 | 2 | 0 | 311 | 2 | 0 | 150 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 150 | 2 | 0 | 311 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 311 | 1 |
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.
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