Surf Forecasts:
Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, WNW swell with 699 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Refugio State Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Refugio State Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Refugio State Beach in the next 16 days are 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Refugio State Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about the next couple of weeks at Refugio State Beach. It's gonna be a bit of a waiting game.
The first few days are pretty lackluster. Small, weak surf with a lot of soft, crumbly waves. The water is notably warm, coming in at 71°F with the anomaly at 7°F, which is very unusual for this time of year. The swell energy is weak, with readings in the 200s and 300s. The wind is light, but mostly onshore or cross, so conditions are a bit bumpy. We're talking knee to waist-high dribble. Friday the 13th sees a pulse of WNW swell to around 5ft, but the period drops to a crumbly 8 seconds. It's not going to be great, with some cross-off wind in the afternoon. The clearer day looks to be Sunday the 15th, with 5ft of WNW swell and a slightly better 9-second period, but it still gets a cross-on wind in the morning.
The middle of the week bottoms out. We get some long-period SW groundswell, but it's tiny. We're looking at 2ft or less, even with a 17-second period. It's clean but there's no push to it. The energy is weak, sitting in the low 200s. Not worth suiting up for.
The standout window is the weekend of the 20th and 21st. The WNW swell starts to fill in with a bit more power, and by Sunday the 21st, we have 6ft of swell in the morning with light winds. The energy readings are up into the 1000s, which is the strongest we've seen. It's not a huge wave, but it's the best combination of size, period, and a bit of off-shore or light wind. That Monday morning is the one time I'd seriously consider paddling out.
After that, the long-period SW swell is consistent but the size is tiny. It’s all under 3ft, and the energy readings are weak in the 300s and 400s. The westerly winds aren't helping, and the surf looks to be marginal at best through to the end of the month. It's not ideal.
Honestly, for the first two weeks, there's barely anything rideable. The surf is small and weak, and it's mostly a waiting game. That 21st is the only ray of light, and even that is only a "maybe." This spot might be more interesting for the kitesurfers on some of those bigger, cross-off afternoons, but for the paddle surfer, it's a frustrating stretch.
Keep your hopes up, though. Forecasts change, and it won't stay flat forever.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 349 | 258 | 255 | 167 | 164 | 127 | 339 | 456 | 644 | 455 | 227 | 411 | 243 | 316 | 230 | 200 | 186 | 223 | 217 | 142 | 140 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:35AM1.95m | 10:37PM1.95m | 11:03AM1.99m | 11:23PM1.78m | 11:32AM2.00m | 00:12AM1.60m | 12:01PM1.97m | 1:08AM1.43m | 12:33PM1.92m | 2:25AM1.29m | 1:10PM1.84m | 5:07AM1.24m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 4:34PM0.57m | 4:48AM0.48m | 5:20PM0.52m | 5:16AM0.66m | 6:07PM0.52m | 5:41AM0.83m | 6:57PM0.55m | 6:04AM1.00m | 7:56PM0.61m | 6:22AM1.13m | 9:10PM0.65m | 6:04AM1.24m | 10:40PM0.66m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 19 | 28 | 31 | 18 | 26 | 28 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 26 | 21 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 21 | 27 | 28 | 16 | 26 | 28 | 16 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 17 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 349 | 258 | 255 | 167 | 164 | 127 | 88 | 87 | 62 | 268 | 107 | 251 | 243 | 160 | 125 | 69 | 186 | 223 | 217 | 142 | 140 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | S 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 20 | 51 | 42 | 35 | 58 | 29 | 58 | 58 | 55 | 108 | 24 | 104 | 125 | 88 | 88 | 200 | 31 | 40 | 34 | 44 | 65 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | WSW 11 | S 8 | S 9 | SW 13 | S 9 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SSE 10 | SW 20 |
| kJ | 12 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 43 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 77 | 73 | 19 | 18 | 29 | 71 | 19 | 140 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | ESE 3 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | 52 | 107 | 77 | 88 | 156 | 189 | 339 | 456 | 644 | 455 | 227 | 411 | 1 | 316 | 230 | 151 | 73 | 52 | 9 | 37 | 64 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 56 | 3 | 0 | 168 | 56 | 2 | 3 | 97 | 0 | 100 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 22 | 0 | 33 | 22 | 0 | 330 | 22 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Refugio State Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Refugio State Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Refugio State Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Refugio State Beach 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 (Refugio State Beach) 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 Refugio State Beach 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.
Refugio State Beach is 21 km (13 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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