Surf Forecasts:
Pescaderos surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SW swell with 273 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pescaderos in the next 16 days are 0.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 21st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pescaderos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's try to make some sense of this same flat spell, but in a language the neighbors might understand. We are looking at a proper stretch of nothing over the next couple of weeks. I'm looking at the charts for Pescaderos, and honestly, it is the kind of forecast that makes you want to learn to play the guitar.
We kick things off around the 16th with some tiny southwest swell, we're talking knee-high at best. The energy is in the doldrums, nothing over 357, which is pretty weak. The winds are light but mostly onshore, creating a bumpy, uninviting surface. The wave comments say it all – "poor surf conditions." It's a two-week forecast that has "don't bother" written all over it.
There are a few instances over the coming days where the wind shifts to a cleaner cross-off, like the afternoons of the 19th, 20th, and 29th. But don't get excited; we're still looking at paltry 0.4m to 0.6m of swell. It just polishes the surface of a puddle. The swell period is okay, in that 14-18 second range, but without any size, it's a pointless detail. This is the kind of surf where you could count the waves on one hand during a two-hour session.
We got a stretch from the 22nd to the 27th that is consistently poor. It's crowded if you bring a groveler, but for anyone else, it's a good time to catch up on sun screen applications. The swell direction is good, straight out of the southwest, but it's a phantom – there's nothing to it. The water temp is about average for the time of year, which is the only thing that'll feel normal about this whole period.
There is not a single day that stands out as even a minor win. It's a full-blown, 16-day flat spell. The rare, tiny wave with a clean surface on the 24th or 26th is still only knee-to-waist high. For a beginner, it's a washout. For everyone else, it's a good excuse to stay on dry land. The consistency is there in the sense that it's consistently poor. Forecast can always change, but this one looks pretty locked in for a whole lot of nothing. I wouldn't even bring a board, mates.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 21 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 70 | 88 | 63 | 64 | 62 | 72 | 121 | 133 | 133 | 130 | 154 | 197 | 199 | 255 | 252 | 241 | 227 | 222 | 214 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | off | cross | cross | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:21AM1.29m | 1:08PM1.84m | 5:08AM1.24m | 3:16PM1.70m | 8:18AM1.41m | 4:47PM1.71m | 8:18AM1.46m | 5:56PM1.77m | 8:29AM1.52m | 6:48PM1.84m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 6:19AM1.13m | 9:08PM0.66m | 5:56AM1.24m | 10:39PM0.66m | 11:58PM0.61m | 10:39AM1.39m | 00:51AM0.53m | 12:12PM1.32m | 1:30AM0.46m | 1:02PM1.21m | 2:01AM0.41m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | W 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 7 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | W 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WNW 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 70 | 30 | 63 | 64 | 18 | 54 | 121 | 133 | 133 | 59 | 32 | 197 | 199 | 255 | 252 | 241 | 45 | 222 | 214 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 18 | WNW 4 | SW 16 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | WNW 7 | W 5 |
| kJ | 39 | 88 | 55 | 6 | 62 | 72 | 64 | 69 | 61 | 130 | 154 | 33 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 14 | 227 | 21 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 18 | SSE 9 | WNW 8 | S 16 | S 15 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 15 | S 10 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 29 | 55 | 8 | 12 | 45 | 40 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 4 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | W 5 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 61 | 36 | 29 | — | 23 | 17 | 21 | 11 | 19 | 36 | — | 40 | 46 | 56 | 81 | 62 | 59 | 17 | 61 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 143 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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