
Surf Forecasts:
Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with 348 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s 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 (Aug 05) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s is also forecast. 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 0.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) 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 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Refugio State Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
The next couple of weeks are going to be a real mixed bag around here. Honestly, for the first few days, it’s looking pretty flat and weak. The swell energy is low, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is never a good look. We’re going to have to wait a bit for anything worthwhile to show up.
Refugio State Beach is the only spot on the radar, and it’s a bit of a tease. It’s a beach and point setup that’s fairly consistent, but the waves are going to be small and messy for a while. The water is running much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice touch, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of surf.
The first few days, Tuesday through Thursday, are a write-off. We’re looking at weak, short-period swell, maybe 1ft to 2ft, with onshore or cross-onshore breezes. Not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate to get wet.
There’s a slight bump in energy come Friday the 7th and into the weekend. The swell period jumps up to 17-19 seconds, which is a good sign, but the wave height stays stubbornly small, around 2ft to 2ft. The combined energy kicks up to the 300s, which is moderate, but it’s still marginal at best. The wind is light, but it’s still coming from the wrong direction. The morning might be the better bet, but be prepared for some questionable conditions.
The following week, from the 10th to the 13th, we see a bit more activity. The swell period is still decent, and the energy is moderate, but the wave heights are still hovering around 2ft to 3ft. It’s still not going to be epic, but it might be enough for a fun, small-wave session if you're on the right board. The wind remains light, which is a positive.
Now, looking further out, the weekend of the 15th and 16th starts to show a bit more promise. The swell is still small, around 3ft to 3ft, but the period is solid, and the energy is getting stronger, up into the 400s and 500s. The swell direction is from the SSW, which isn’t the optimum for this spot, but it’s not terrible. The main issue is the afternoon winds picking up and making things choppy. The mornings are the time to be out.
The real standout in this whole window looks like Friday the 14th. The combined energy is strong, hitting 587 in the afternoon, and the swell is up to 3ft from the SSW with a 18-second period. That’s a legit groundswell. The problem is the afternoon wind is going to be a cross-onshore chop maker. The morning of the 14th is looking the best of the best, with 2ft and a 19-second period, and light winds. It’s not huge, but it’s going to be the cleanest, most powerful wave of the stretch. That’s my pick for the best session.
After that, the 17th, 18th, and 19th are more of the same. Small, cleanish waves in the morning, with the afternoon winds messing them up. The energy stays moderate, and the swell direction stays SSW. It’s not going to be a classic, but there are waves to be had if you’re keen.
The setup here is more of a summer small-wave grind. The swell is mostly long-period, which can be a bit tricky at a beach break, but the point section might handle it better. Crowds are often a factor here, so expect some company.
So, to be blunt, there’s not a standout, can’t-miss swell in this forecast. But if you’re flexible and can get out in the mornings, there are a few windows of fun, clean surf. The best bet is the morning of the 14th, with the 15th and 16th as backups. The rest is just a waiting game. Keep an eye on it, though, because forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
97 | 71 | 70 | 96 | 87 | 84 | 84 | 212 | 207 | 270 | 267 | 226 | 288 | 193 | 188 | 215 | 161 | 107 | 137 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 2:57AM1.26m | 3:08PM1.92m | 5:11AM1.17m | 4:10PM1.99m | 7:19AM1.23m | 5:19PM2.09m | 8:23AM1.34m | 6:25PM2.20m | 9:04AM1.44m | 7:25PM2.31m | 9:40AM1.53m | 8:20PM2.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:25PM0.82m | 7:56AM0.94m | 10:56PM0.69m | 8:40AM1.08m | 00:17AM0.50m | 10:01AM1.18m | 1:20AM0.30m | 11:40AM1.21m | 2:12AM0.13m | 12:59PM1.16m | 2:58AM0.01m | 2:02PM1.07m | 3:41AM-0.05m | ||||||
— | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 21 |
Feels °C | 19 | 25 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 25 | 29 | 27 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 |
97 | 71 | 70 | 96 | 87 | 84 | 84 | 212 | 207 | 270 | 267 | 226 | 288 | 193 | 188 | 125 | 103 | 107 | 98 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 13 | SW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
9 | 32 | 19 | 6 | 18 | 39 | 82 | 83 | 82 | 65 | 36 | 56 | 83 | 18 | 30 | 215 | 161 | 101 | 137 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 11 | S 12 | SSW 20 | S 12 | S 12 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSE 9 | WNW 4 | WNW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
3 | 12 | 12 | 37 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 17 | 6 | 18 | 41 | 23 | 61 | 97 | 96 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
79 | 51 | 18 | 23 | 10 | 16 | 14 | — | 47 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 0 | 33 | 108 | 0 | 33 | 22 | 0 | 155 | 22 | 0 | 160 | 22 | 0 | 170 | 19 | 0 | 24 | 34 |
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.











