Surf Forecasts:
Jelly Bowl surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, WNW swell with 160 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Jelly Bowl this week:
The surf forecast for Jelly Bowl over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Jelly Bowl in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) 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+) | 5AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jelly Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, this is a quiet stretch. We’ve got a 16-day window, and every single session is flagged as poor surf conditions. The combined wave energy is mostly in the low to moderate range, with values bouncing between 100 and 259. That might sound like a bit of energy later on, but with the constant cross-onshore or onshore wind, it’s just not coming together for clean surf at Jelly Bowl.
The first week – from Saturday the 12th right through to the following Friday the 18th – is all tiny knee-to-waist-high stuff (1ft to 3ft), with a mix of SW and W swell. The swell period is often long (14 to 19 seconds), which means groundswell, but the cross-onshore wind (6 to 9 mph) is messing up what little shape there is. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
For the second week, starting Sunday the 20th, the swell height stays small, around 1ft to 2ft, still SW direction, with periods mostly in the 14-18 second range. The combined energy jumps a little on the 20th and 21st, reaching into the 240s and 250s, but again, the wind is cross-onshore or onshore, 6 mph, light breeze. It’s not enough to make it worthwhile for a paddle.
Honestly, there’s nothing here to get excited about. No standout days. If you’re desperate, maybe the stronger energy on Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st has a bit more push, but the wind and the tiny size mean it’s still a scratchy, blown-out mess. For a beginner-friendly reef break with “sometimes” crowds, even the small clean windows aren’t appearing.
We just have to wait this one out. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a blank run. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 104 | 102 | 52 | 109 | 117 | 108 | 59 | 113 | 76 | 53 | 79 | 50 | 38 | 119 | 74 | 100 | 98 | 85 | 82 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:31PM2.00m | 10:56AM2.04m | 11:16PM1.83m | 11:25AM2.05m | 00:03AM1.64m | 11:54AM2.02m | 00:57AM1.46m | 12:25PM1.96m | 2:11AM1.31m | 1:01PM1.87m | 4:59AM1.25m | 1:50PM1.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:42AM0.47m | 5:12PM0.52m | 5:09AM0.65m | 5:58PM0.52m | 5:34AM0.83m | 6:48PM0.56m | 5:56AM1.00m | 7:46PM0.62m | 6:12AM1.14m | 9:01PM0.68m | 5:43AM1.25m | 10:34PM0.68m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 5 |
| kJ | 21 | 13 | 8 | 41 | 117 | 108 | 59 | 113 | 76 | 53 | 79 | 50 | 12 | 119 | 74 | 100 | 98 | 85 | 11 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | S 12 | W 4 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 104 | 102 | 52 | 49 | 46 | 28 | 47 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 3 | 82 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 12 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | W 5 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 21 | 18 | 35 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 38 | 37 | 14 | 14 | 25 | 5 | 18 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | — | W 4 | WNW 6 | — | W 5 | — | — | WSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 2 | — | W 7 | W 3 | — |
| kJ | 43 | — | 15 | 109 | — | 29 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 6 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 118 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 113 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 285 | 0 | 121 | 31 | 0 | 285 | 4 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Jelly Bowl Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Jelly Bowl provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Jelly Bowl can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Jelly Bowl 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 (Jelly Bowl) 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 Jelly Bowl 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.
Jelly Bowl is 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Santa Ana. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Santa Ana. Santa Ana has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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