Surf Forecasts:
Isla Vista surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with 326 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with WNW 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. 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 0.9m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) 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 0.8m 12s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isla Vista over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the Isla Vista surf for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a quiet start, folks. The first few days have some swell, but it’s just not lining up. On Wednesday morning, the energy is weak (172) with a tiny 2ft SW swell, but the wind is onshore and the conditions are poor. The water is at 70°, which is a massive 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a real anomaly, so you’ll be in a warm bath.
Thursday morning the 27th is the first real chance. The wind goes glassy, giving us a clean 3ft WNW swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s a bit weak. Still, it’s the only flat water you’ll see. The afternoon goes cross-onshore and messy again.
Friday and Saturday are basically a washout. The wind is choppy and cross-on, and the swell is there but the quality is missing. Saturday morning the 29th has a 2ft SW groundswell with a long 17-second period, which sounds good, but the wind is already cross-onshore, so it’s a mess. The combined energy is high (680), but it’s all wind-blown.
We hit a real lull from Sunday the 30th through to Tuesday the 1st of September. The surf is tiny and poor. The wind just won’t give us a break.
Then things start to turn. Wednesday afternoon the 2nd of September is a standout. The wind goes glassy, and we have a 3ft S swell with a 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (325), and the conditions are “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the best of the first week.
Friday the 4th of September is another strong session. The morning is glassy with a 2ft SSW groundswell, and that 17-second period means long, powerful lines. The energy is moderate (359). The afternoon goes clean with a light offshore breeze from the ESE. That’s a real nice window.
The weekend after that (5th and 6th of September) is a mixed bag. Sunday morning the 6th is glassy again with a 3ft SSW swell, so another decent window for a clean, small-wave session.
Looking into the second week, it gets a bit shaky. But Wednesday morning the 9th of September offers a glassy start with a 2ft SSW groundswell, period at 16 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be better at a point or reef, not the beach. The energy is moderate (335) and conditions are good.
Overall, the best bets are the glassy mornings: Thursday the 27th of August, Wednesday the 2nd of September, Friday the 4th of September, Sunday the 6th of September, and Wednesday the 9th of September. The real standouts are Wednesday the 2nd and Friday the 4th – those have the best combo of clean conditions and decent swell. Get out there early before the wind gets up.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 11 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | SW 18 | WNW 9 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 124 | 85 | 75 | 130 | 121 | 181 | 96 | 126 | 312 | 302 | 245 | 255 | 249 | 218 | 218 | 116 | 75 | 68 | 44 | 91 | 141 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:09AM1.59m | 9:10PM2.11m | 10:30AM1.66m | 9:45PM2.07m | 10:51AM1.73m | 10:22PM1.99m | 11:14AM1.81m | 11:01PM1.86m | 11:39AM1.87m | 11:45PM1.70m | 12:07PM1.93m | 00:36AM1.51m | 12:42PM1.96m | 1:45AM1.33m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:05PM0.98m | 4:07AM0.27m | 3:43PM0.89m | 4:32AM0.32m | 4:22PM0.81m | 4:56AM0.41m | 5:03PM0.74m | 5:19AM0.53m | 5:49PM0.69m | 5:43AM0.68m | 6:42PM0.65m | 6:08AM0.82m | 7:45PM0.63m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 33 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 33 | 34 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 20 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 10 | WNW 7 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 12 |
| kJ | 212 | 189 | 75 | 130 | 79 | 77 | 94 | 26 | 312 | 302 | 206 | 255 | 249 | 218 | 218 | 47 | 117 | 125 | 109 | 91 | 141 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SSE 11 | S 10 | S 11 | SW 14 | S 9 | SW 16 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 48 | 48 | 126 | 51 | 121 | 65 | 28 | 68 | 152 | 91 | 127 | 124 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 98 | 75 | 68 | 8 | 5 | 79 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 12 | SW 14 | W 11 | SW 16 | S 19 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | W 11 | SSW 14 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | 124 | 85 | 75 | 75 | 73 | 22 | 66 | 66 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 116 | 10 | 5 | 44 | 17 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | — | SSE 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 181 | 96 | 126 | 172 | 281 | 245 | 181 | 216 | 195 | 70 | 25 | 20 | 15 | — | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 311 | 0 | 311 | 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.
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