Surf Forecasts:
Leadbetter surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 20s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with 711 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 20s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Leadbetter this week:
The surf forecast for Leadbetter over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 20s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Leadbetter in the next 16 days are 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 20s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Leadbetter over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, mate. Rusty here. Gotta be straight with ya—Leadbetter's lookin' pretty sad for the next couple of weeks. The water's way off, sittin' at a warm 69°, which is over three degrees warmer than it should be for this time of year. That's weird, but honestly, that's the most interesting thing goin' on.
The outlook opens on Saturday the 25th, and there's barely a pulse. We've got a tiny 1 ft SW swell, but it's cross-on with a light breeze and the energy's weak, only 216. That's a "poor surf" call right out the gate.
Sunday the 26th sees a little bump to 2 ft from the SSW, combined energy creepin' up to 436 (moderate now), but it's still cross-on and the wave comment says it's marginal at best. Same kind of theme runs all through the next week, mate. Monday the 27th, Tuesday the 28th—tiny 2 to 3 ft swells from SW/SSW, all cross-on, all with that "poor surf" or "marginal" stink on 'em.
We do see a little spike on Friday the 31st, swell pushin' 5 ft from the south, combined energy hittin' 775—that's solid moderate energy. But it's still cross-on, and the wind picks up to 9 mph from the WSW, makin' it choppy. Still rates as poor. That's a pattern here.
After that, it just fades away. Swell drops to 3 ft on the 1st of August, then 2 ft, 2 ft, and by the 4th of August we're down to 1.0 ft. The energy numbers are in the double digits by the end—weak, pathetic stuff. The period sticks around 15-19 seconds on some of those small days, which means long wait between sets, but when the swell's that small it's just not worth paddlin' out for.
The whole 16-day window is a write-off. There's a long gap of nothing worthwhile from the start, and it never really gets good. The wind is always cross-on or onshore, never swings offshore to clean it up. This break is an inconsistent point, sheltered, and it's showin' that hard. If you're desperate, you might find a knee-high dribbler on Friday the 31st, but that's the best of a bad bunch, and that's sayin' nothin'.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 20 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 141 | 384 | 332 | 330 | 319 | 327 | 364 | 298 | 390 | 373 | 310 | 223 | 284 | 284 | 259 | 362 | 691 | 711 | 649 | 488 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 7:40PM1.73m | 10:09AM1.09m | 8:18PM1.78m | 10:31AM1.11m | 8:54PM1.83m | 10:54AM1.14m | 9:28PM1.84m | 11:18AM1.17m | 10:02PM1.83m | 11:44AM1.22m | 10:35PM1.78m | 12:10PM1.27m | 11:10PM1.68m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:20AM-0.05m | 1:59PM0.88m | 3:51AM-0.11m | 2:37PM0.83m | 4:20AM-0.14m | 3:13PM0.78m | 4:48AM-0.15m | 3:49PM0.73m | 5:16AM-0.14m | 4:27PM0.70m | 5:42AM-0.09m | 5:08PM0.67m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | 58 | 64 | 82 | 58 | 86 | 83 | 91 | 107 | 92 | 94 | 137 | 285 | 297 | 371 | 322 | 362 | 691 | 711 | 649 | 488 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 13 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 |
| kJ | 141 | 384 | 332 | 330 | 319 | 327 | 364 | 298 | 390 | 373 | 310 | 108 | 284 | 284 | 259 | 229 | 61 | 64 | 43 | 49 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 9 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | SW 15 |
| kJ | 17 | 27 | 22 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 59 | 107 | 191 | 223 | 64 | 60 | 73 | 49 | — | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | W 4 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | WNW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 77 | — | 41 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | 66 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 2 | 13 | 27 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 21 | 39 | 2 | 68 | 13 | 2 | 136 | 13 | 2 | 68 | 13 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Leadbetter Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Leadbetter provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Leadbetter can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Leadbetter 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 (Leadbetter) 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 Leadbetter 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.
Leadbetter is 3 km (2 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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