Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period, S swell with 445 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Isla Vista in the next 16 days are 1.1m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 14s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk about Isla Vista – a beach and reef break. The water is way warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 69°F with a 3°F anomaly. That’s a big warm spell, feels like you’re surfing in the tropics.
Right now, the next sixteen days are looking pretty flat and messy. The swell energy is moderate (237–471), but the wind is almost always cross-on or onshore, and the wave heights are small. The first real chance comes on Monday, 7th September, with a 4ft south swell at 13 seconds. The wind is light onshore from the SW, so it’s not clean, but it’s the best of the early period. The energy hits 471 (moderate).
Thursday, 10th September, offers a 2ft SW groundswell with a long 17-second period. The light cross-on wind from the W will put a little texture on it, but the reef could still offer a decent wave for the dedicated surfer.
Into the second week, the biggest pulse arrives on Friday, 18th September. The afternoon brings a 6ft WNW windswell, but with only a 6-second period. The wind is light onshore from the SW, and the energy is 454 (moderate). That size is over 5ft, so it’s expert territory – too big for beginners. The short period means it’ll be fast and punchy, not a long cruiser.
The 19th and 20th September see tiny 2ft–2ft SW groundswells with a very long period of 18–19 seconds. Too small to do anything meaningful at the beach, but the reef might see a few long waits.
The best day overall is the 18th September afternoon – that’s the biggest swell of the run, but it’s short-period and onshore. For a fairly consistent spot like this, a blank run like this isn’t unusual, but it’s a real bummer. Crowds will be light because the surf is so average. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 201 | 196 | 144 | 142 | 142 | 420 | 389 | 356 | 184 | 213 | 147 | 102 | 138 | 195 | 295 | 261 | 251 | 193 | 148 | 142 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 5:08PM2.02m | 8:08AM1.47m | 6:21PM2.11m | 8:37AM1.57m | 7:22PM2.19m | 9:07AM1.68m | 8:15PM2.22m | 9:36AM1.79m | 9:03PM2.19m | 10:04AM1.88m | 9:50PM2.10m | 10:33AM1.95m | 10:35PM1.96m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:04AM0.26m | 12:07PM1.22m | 1:52AM0.16m | 1:16PM1.09m | 2:34AM0.11m | 2:11PM0.93m | 3:11AM0.12m | 3:00PM0.78m | 3:45AM0.19m | 3:47PM0.66m | 4:17AM0.32m | 4:32PM0.57m | 4:46AM0.47m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 23 |
Feels °C | 25 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 201 | 198 | 308 | 361 | 345 | 420 | 389 | 356 | 114 | 213 | 147 | 102 | 66 | 195 | 295 | 261 | 79 | 193 | 148 | 142 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 7 | SW 19 | WNW 6 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | WNW 4 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | 192 | 196 | 144 | 142 | 142 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 184 | 50 | 12 | 94 | 138 | 52 | 56 | 37 | 251 | 55 | 45 | 71 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SW 11 | WNW 6 | W 5 | SW 10 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NW 10 | SW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 8 | SW 7 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 45 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 31 | 49 | 6 | 68 | 65 | 4 | 34 | 11 | 25 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 4 | — | W 7 | W 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | — | W 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 36 | 11 | — | 17 | 16 | — | 32 | 9 | 6 | 28 | — | — | 4 | 37 | 31 | 114 | — | 73 | 119 | 81 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 58 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 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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