Refugio State Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.46° N 120.08° W

Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Refugio State Beach sea temperature is
20.5°C
3.1° 

Refugio State Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, WNW swell with 601 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. 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 1.9m 9s 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 9th Sep)2ft (0.6m) 17s
Best Surf 2AM (Sun 13th Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Most Powerful11PM (Sun 13th Sep)6ft (1.9m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Refugio State Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the pipe for this stretch of coast.

First up, the water is way warmer than it should be for this time of year – a solid 69°F with a 6°F anomaly. That's very unusual, so don't expect that classic fall chill in the water just yet.

The next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there's nothing that's going to blow your mind on the daily. The early part of the period is pretty small. From Wednesday the 9th through the end of that first week, we're looking at tiny waves, mostly in the 2 ft to 3 ft range with a mix of cross and cross-offshore winds that might keep things clean but will leave you scratching for a ride. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate (356 to 490).

The weekend of the 12th and 13th sees a pulse of short-period windswell from the WNW. Saturday morning is a bit junky with a 4 ft cross-on swell (energy 390), but the afternoon cleans up with a cross-offshore wind and a 6 ft swell. The period is a super short 6 seconds, so it'll be a bit of a bumpy, close-out mess for the beach breaks. Sunday afternoon is the best of that weekend, with a 6 ft swell and a clean cross-offshore breeze, but again, the period is only 7 seconds.

The real standout, the one that has my attention, is Saturday the 19th. We get a solid 7 ft swell from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds. The combined swell energy is a strong 1250, so there's plenty of power in the water. The morning looks clean with a light cross-onshore breeze. Now, 7 ft is pushing into territory that's too big for beginners, and at a spot like Refugio State Beach (a beach and point setup), that long-period groundswell will be better suited for the point rather than the beach break. It's an expert-level day, but the potential for a few good ones on the point is real.

Following that, Sunday the 20th drops off quickly to 5 ft, and the rest of the week settles back into the same pattern of small, mostly marginal surf around 2 ft to 3 ft with moderate energy levels (426 to 599). The crowds at Refugio are often around, so keep that in mind.

Overall, it's a period of waiting for that one Saturday. If you're an experienced surfer, mark the 19th on your calendar. For everyone else, the rest of the time is a lot of waiting for small, inconsistent waves.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 37°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
3
1
2
3
2
1
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
19
0.6
SW
17
0.7
SW
17
0.9
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SW
15
0.8
SW
15
1.3
WNW
7
1.8
WNW
6
2
WNW
9
1.6
WNW
8
1.8
WNW
7
1.9
WNW
9
1.7
WNW
8
1.2
WNW
9
1.3
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
8
0.9
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
181
232
298
419
367
358
349
262
255
181
254
564
339
316
586
413
199
258
160
119
153
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
20
WNW
15
NW
5
WSW
20
NW
10
NNW
10
W
15
NW
10
NNW
10
WSW
20
NW
15
NNW
10
WSW
15
NW
10
NNW
5
SSW
10
WSW
5
NE
10
S
10
WSW
5
NNE
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
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
12:01PM1.97m
1:08AM1.43m
12:33PM1.92m
2:25AM1.29m
Low Tide
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
5:41AM0.83m
6:57PM0.55m
6:04AM1.00m
7:56PM0.61m
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:15
7:14
7:13
7:10
7:09
7:07
7:07
 mm
Temp °C
36
37
30
33
34
25
30
31
20
27
30
18
26
29
18
24
25
20
23
24
20
Feels °C
35
36
27
33
32
21
29
30
18
26
27
16
24
27
16
23
24
20
24
25
21
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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