Surf Forecasts:
Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, WNW swell with 634 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 13s. 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 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Refugio State Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, it's Rusty. We're in for a bit of a slow patch, so don't go getting your hopes up just yet. There’s some ankle-biters early on, but nothing worth suiting up for. Just be patient.
The action starts to fire up on Saturday the 12th. The swell starts to fill in, and you can tell there’s more energy in the water by Sunday the 13th. Refugio State Beach (California) is where you'll want to be. We're looking at waves pushing 6 to 7 feet from the WNW. The afternoon cross-off breeze will help keep it from getting messy. It’s not huge, but it’s a real step up.
Monday the 14th is another one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon looks good with 6 feet of WNW swell and a cleaner cross-off wind. The energy is solid, and the waves should have some proper shape to them.
Tuesday the 15th is the one that has me a little excited. Early morning, the wind is basically nothing, just a slight onshore breath, and the swell is a consistent 6 feet from the WNW. The water is full of energy at 704. This is likely your pick of the week. It's got size, but it's not a monster. If you're experienced, you'll have a ball. Beginners might want to watch from the sand.
After that, it fades fast. The middle of the week is back to small and crumbly. But hold on, because the models are putting out a big one for Monday the 21st. They're calling for 7 feet of WNW swell, with a strong 855 on the energy scale. That's a serious pulse. But it's a long way out, so treat it as a promising possibility, not a done deal. If it comes together, it could be the best few waves of the entire period.
So, the short version: hit it on the 14th and 15th. Those are your days for a proper surf. Then we wait and hope the long-range forecast holds up.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 36°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 10 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 472 | 242 | 265 | 131 | 181 | 232 | 298 | 419 | 367 | 358 | 349 | 220 | 255 | 167 | 271 | 455 | 321 | 464 | 601 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:08AM1.68m | 8:16PM2.21m | 9:37AM1.78m | 9:05PM2.18m | 10:06AM1.87m | 9:51PM2.09m | 10:35AM1.95m | 10:37PM1.95m | 11:03AM1.99m | 11:23PM1.78m | 11:32AM2.00m | 00:12AM1.60m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:35AM0.11m | 2:12PM0.94m | 3:12AM0.13m | 3:01PM0.79m | 3:47AM0.20m | 3:48PM0.66m | 4:18AM0.32m | 4:34PM0.57m | 4:48AM0.48m | 5:20PM0.52m | 5:16AM0.66m | 6:07PM0.52m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 32 | 33 | 28 | 36 | 35 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 20 | 26 | 28 | 18 | 27 | 29 | 18 |
Feels °C | 24 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 36 | 32 | 27 | 31 | 32 | 22 | 27 | 28 | 18 | 25 | 26 | 16 | 25 | 26 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 472 | 242 | 265 | 131 | 79 | 54 | 298 | 419 | 367 | 358 | 349 | 220 | 255 | 167 | 136 | 95 | 88 | 87 | 85 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SSW 8 | SW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | NW 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 50 | 145 | 81 | 67 | 96 | 232 | 38 | 41 | 26 | 8 | 19 | 51 | 42 | 35 | 58 | 29 | 58 | 58 | 56 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 18 | NW 12 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NW 12 | S 11 | S 10 | WSW 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | S 9 |
| kJ | 4 | 49 | 6 | 94 | 181 | 60 | 47 | 46 | 27 | 36 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 17 | 43 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 16 | 54 | 27 | 95 | 83 | 53 | 151 | 103 | 157 | 271 | 455 | 321 | 464 | 601 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 22 | 21 | 0 | 22 | 100 | 0 | 168 | 21 | 0 | 164 | 3 | 0 | 164 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 21 | 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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