Surf Forecasts:
Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SW 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★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. 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 glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| 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, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what this next stretch is shaping up to look like for Refugio State Beach. Straight up, this isn’t a period for headline-grabbing waves. We’ve got a long, quiet run ahead with only small, inconsistent energy pushing in. Things start off weak and stay that way for the majority of the 16-day window.
For Sunday the 9th into the opening days of the week, we’re looking at tiny 2ft to 2ft swell from the SSW with periods in that healthy 13 to 15 second range – so the groundswell quality is there, but the size just isn’t enough to get excited about. The combined energy is fairly low, ranging from 238 to 285 (weak to moderate energy), and a light breeze hangs around, mostly cross-on or onshore. It’s marginal at best.
There’s a small window that picks up a little energy around Saturday the 15th morning. We get a glassy morning with a 3ft SSW groundswell, 16 second period, and the combined energy bumps up to 534 (moderate energy). That’s clean, but still small. It’s the closest thing to “decent” we get early on.
Sunday the 16th morning brings a bit more size – 4ft from the SW with a 15 second period and combined energy hitting 755 (moderate to strong energy). Wind is light and onshore, but it’s the most size we’ll see near the start. The afternoon falls apart with a cross-onshore breeze and poor conditions.
From there it tails off again into tiny, weak surf through the second week, with combined energy mostly between 196 and 364 (weak to low moderate). The exception is the 22nd of August when a brief windswell pops up from the WNW, a short 6 second period, 5ft, but it’s cross-shore and choppy. That’s more of a mess than a highlight.
If there’s a true standout, it’s the morning of Saturday the 15th. That glassy 3ft long-period SSW groundswell will have a clean, peeling feel, ideal for a longboard or a logger. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing extreme.
Otherwise, this is a stretch where most days you’ll stare at small, weak lines and cross-onshore bumps. Not a period to plan a trip around.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | 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 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 288 | 193 | 167 | 215 | 161 | 101 | 137 | 84 | 154 | 207 | 133 | 208 | 206 | 201 | 245 | 232 | 199 | 280 | 301 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:04AM1.44m | 7:25PM2.31m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:12AM0.13m | 12:59PM1.16m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 23 | 23 | 19 |
Feels °C | 25 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 288 | 193 | 167 | 215 | 161 | 85 | 137 | 30 | 154 | 207 | 133 | 208 | 206 | 201 | 245 | 232 | 169 | 214 | 301 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | W 4 | SSW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | S 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 83 | 5 | 41 | 73 | 63 | 101 | 55 | 84 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 45 | 41 | 38 | 39 | 38 | 199 | 280 | 276 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | NW 7 | WNW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 12 | 23 | 61 | 97 | 96 | 74 | 75 | 47 | 44 | 61 | 37 | 36 | 57 | 49 | 36 | 21 | 18 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 36 | 57 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 155 | 22 | 8 | 330 | 22 | 0 | 118 | 22 | 0 | 293 | 34 | 0 | 117 | 22 | 0 | 224 | 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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