Surf Forecasts:
Pescaderos surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s period, SSW swell with 424 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pescaderos this week:
The surf forecast for Pescaderos over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pescaderos in the next 16 days are 1.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pescaderos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for our little corner of the coast over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a few windows where things look pretty fun.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a few tiny, glassy waves lined up for Thursday the 27th of August at Pescaderos. The morning session is looking super clean with that NNE breeze at just 3 mph and glassy conditions. We’re looking at a small 2 ft swell from the south with a 12-second period, giving a modest combined energy of 187. It’s not big, but for a beginner-friendly break that’s fairly consistent, it’s a nice little window. The water is a very unusual 71 °F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick rubber at home. By the afternoon, the wind swings to a light cross-off and the swell bumps up a touch to 2 ft from the south, but you might find a few better-shaped ones. Crowds are possible here sometimes, but on a small day like this, it shouldn’t be a battle.
Friday morning drops back to a tiny 1 ft from the southwest, period 16 seconds. That long period groundswell is clean thanks to cross-off wind, but the energy is low at 140. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Friday afternoon’s wind picks up a bit, so not worth rushing out for.
The weekend shapes up a little differently. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th see a pulse of stronger energy—combined readings in the 450 to 614 range—coming from the southwest and south-southwest with 2 ft to 3 ft waves. The period is still solid at 15 to 17 seconds. Problem is, the wind gets tricky: cross-shore and light cross-shore, which puts a few bumps on the face. The surf is marginal, and the tide might play games. It’s worth a look for a patient surfer who doesn’t mind a bit of a wait between sets, especially with that long-period groundswell. These long-period swells can sometimes break a bit straight on a beach setup like this, so keep that in mind.
From Monday the 31st right through to Wednesday the 2nd of September, it goes flat and poor. Winds are light and mostly onshore or cross-onshore with small bumps on the surface. The swell drops to 2 ft to 2 ft, and the energy levels are weak, between 112 and 204. Not much to get excited about.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Thursday the 3rd of September through to the weekend of the 5th and 6th, we see a more consistent bump. Swell heights creep up to 3 ft to 4 ft from the south-southwest, with decent periods of 12 to 16 seconds. The combined energy is moderate, sitting between 291 and 448. The wind stays light and cross-shore for most of it. The morning of Thursday the 3rd sees a 3 ft SSW swell with a 13-second period and 403 energy. It’s a marginal forecast, but the potential is there for a fun session if you pick your banks. The afternoon of the 4th of September is also worth a mention: 2 ft from the SSW with a 16-second period and 393 energy, under light cross-shore breezes. That long period could wrap in nicely.
For the second week, it gets a bit messy again. From the 7th of September onward, the swell drops back to 1 ft to 2 ft. Periods are still long (14 to 18 seconds), but the energy is weak, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. There’s a standout moment on the morning of Tuesday the 8th of September—a 1 ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 18 seconds, giving a combined energy of 273. It’s tiny but that period makes it super clean under light cross-onshore air. A longboarder’s dream, but marginal for anything else. By Thursday the 10th of September, the afternoon shows a 3 ft swell from the SSW with 15-second period and 293 energy, with a clean cross-off breeze at 16 mph. That’s your best bet in the second week for a clean, fun wave, though it’s a long-range call so keep an eye on it. The following Friday the 11th has clean conditions again but even smaller surf.
Overall, the standout session looks like Thursday the 27th of August morning for pure glassy, small-wave fun, and maybe the afternoon of the 4th of September for a better-shaped, longer-period southwest swell. Beyond that, it’s a waiting game for the right window.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
75 | 121 | 77 | 66 | 68 | 312 | 302 | 261 | 255 | 249 | 218 | 276 | 116 | 123 | 117 | 88 | 59 | 79 | 129 | 129 | 219 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 1:25PM1.97m | 3:36AM1.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:34AM0.97m | 9:06PM0.60m | ||||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 21 |
Feels °C | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 |
62 | 83 | 40 | 43 | 26 | 312 | 302 | 261 | 255 | 249 | 218 | 276 | 116 | 123 | 117 | 88 | 59 | 32 | 129 | 129 | 219 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 18 | W 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | W 11 | SSE 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 4 | W 4 | S 12 | WNW 4 | SW 16 | SW 18 |
50 | 121 | 77 | 66 | 68 | 152 | 43 | 127 | 124 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 99 | 71 | 68 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 6 | 68 | 157 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | S 19 | S 8 | S 17 | S 9 | S 9 | W 20 | SW 21 | S 13 | SSE 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 10 | WNW 10 |
75 | 73 | 65 | 31 | 66 | 13 | 91 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 81 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 44 | 44 | 79 | 69 | 7 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 4 | — | WNW 4 | WNW 4 |
— | — | 25 | 94 | 138 | 143 | 163 | 220 | 215 | 192 | 184 | 90 | 27 | 28 | 15 | 7 | — | 6 | — | 4 | 16 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 53 | 35 | 0 | 52 | 36 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Pescaderos Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pescaderos provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pescaderos can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pescaderos 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 (Pescaderos) 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 Pescaderos 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.
Pescaderos 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.











