Isla Vista Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Isla Vista.

To be straight with you, the next few weeks are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for Isla Vista. There are no real standouts – the surf is mostly small, messy, and the conditions are just not coming together for a proper session. The water temperature is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s one small comfort if you’re just going for a dip.

We’ve got a long, quiet gap right at the start. From Monday 13 July right through to the morning of Wednesday 15 July, there’s barely a ripple worth paddling out for – swell heights are tiny, between 1.0ft and 2ft, and the wind is onshore. The combined energy during this stretch is very weak, with values like 180 and 216, so there’s no grunt in the water. It’s a write-off.

Thursday 16 July morning sees a slight bump, with swell hitting 4ft from the WNW at 8 seconds, and the combined energy climbing to 526 (moderate). The wind is light and onshore, so it’s not clean, but you might find a few weak, crumbly waves if you’re desperate. Still, the forecast flags it as marginal, so don’t expect much. The afternoon stays similar at 5ft, but the wind goes cross-onshore, making it choppy. This is still only for the keen.

Friday 17 July and Saturday 18 July are much the same story – waist-high waves, light onshore breezes, and just enough energy to keep the hope alive but not enough to get excited. The long-period swell (18 seconds) on Saturday morning will look appealing on paper, but with only 2ft of height, it’s a whole lot of wait between sets for very little reward.

The following week, from 20 July to 22 July, the swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft. The wind is consistently onshore or cross-onshore, and the combined energy sits between 207 and 340. Nothing special here. It’s pretty much a flat spell.

On Thursday 23 July, we get a small window of interest. The morning is cloudy with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ESE at 9 mph, which will keep the surface clean. The swell is only 2ft from the SSW at 14 seconds, but the conditions are described as ‘surfable’. The afternoon is the real tease – glassy conditions, zero wind, and small 1ft waves. It’s tiny, but it will be the cleanest you’ll see all period. The beach-and-reef setup at Isla Vista might offer a few fun little peelers on a longboard or a foamy.

After that, the run from Friday 24 July through to Tuesday 28 July is again small and mostly messy. The wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is a mix of weak, short-period WNW and long-period SSW. The combined energy does spike to 486 on the morning of 26 July, but with only 2ft of swell and onshore wind, it’s just a lot of bump and no punch.

Bottom line: There’s no proper swell on the horizon. The best bet is the afternoon of Thursday 23 July, when the glassy conditions might make the tiny, clean waves fun on the right equipment. If you’re a beginner, the water is warm, but keep your expectations low. For everyone else, this is a kite-surfing kind of setup for most of the period, with the wind and small chop making it more interesting for them than for paddle surfers. Hang in there, local forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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