Surf Forecasts:
Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 601 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 Monday (Aug 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Refugio State Beach in the next 16 days are 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Refugio State Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
We’re starting off with a pretty quiet stretch. The first few days have some waves, but they’re small and the conditions aren't doing us any favours. The overall swell energy is weak to moderate, but the quality just isn't there for a proper paddle session.
The best of the bunch, and honestly the only real standout in this whole forecast, looks like Tuesday afternoon, the 18th of August. We’ve got a jump in swell height to 6 ft, coming from the WNW. The period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s a bit of a choppy windswell, but the wind is coming from the NW, which is cross-offshore. That’s a clean wind state, and that makes a huge difference. The combined energy is moderate. For a beginner-friendly spot like Refugio State Beach, this is the moment to get after it. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, no big anomalies there.
Outside of that window, it’s a lot of small, weak surf with onshore or cross-onshore winds messing up the surface. The morning of Saturday the 15th has a little bump with 3 ft and light winds, and Saturday afternoon the 21st shows a 3 ft windswell from the WNW with a cross breeze, but that’s about it for anything even worth a mention. After the 18th, the surf drops right back down into the 1 ft to 3 ft range, with a lot of those days showing poor conditions. The 22nd and 23rd look particularly grim with strong cross-shore winds and tiny swell.
It’s a pretty lean run overall. If you’re a beginner, Tuesday the 18th afternoon is your best bet for some clean, manageable waves. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 20 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 215 | 161 | 139 | 137 | 84 | 154 | 207 | 133 | 208 | 206 | 201 | 245 | 232 | 199 | 280 | 276 | 407 | 532 | 519 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:40AM1.53m | 8:20PM2.39m | 10:14AM1.62m | 9:11PM2.40m | 10:48AM1.70m | 9:59PM2.34m | 11:22AM1.78m | 10:46PM2.20m | 11:56AM1.84m | 11:33PM2.00m | 12:31PM1.88m | 00:22AM1.76m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:58AM0.01m | 2:02PM1.07m | 3:41AM-0.05m | 2:58PM0.97m | 4:20AM-0.04m | 3:51PM0.87m | 4:57AM0.05m | 4:43PM0.80m | 5:32AM0.19m | 5:35PM0.76m | 6:05AM0.37m | 6:30PM0.74m | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 26 | 28 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 26 | 20 |
Feels °C | 23 | 26 | 28 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 215 | 161 | 139 | 137 | 84 | 154 | 207 | 133 | 208 | 64 | 201 | 245 | 232 | 169 | 214 | 272 | 407 | 532 | 519 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | S 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 73 | 47 | 63 | 55 | 30 | 75 | 41 | 32 | 64 | 206 | 39 | 53 | 61 | 39 | 280 | 276 | 85 | 30 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 20 | SSW 19 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SW 8 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 23 | 61 | 97 | 96 | 74 | 28 | 47 | 46 | 61 | 37 | 37 | 33 | 98 | 199 | 23 | 34 | 30 | 3 | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 7 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | — | 27 | 29 | — | — | — | — | 51 | 20 | 30 | 31 | 28 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 204 | 22 | 0 | 19 | 22 | 0 | 170 | 22 | 0 | 170 | 22 | 0 | 33 | 22 | 0 | 33 | 22 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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