Refugio State Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.46° N 120.08° W

Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 03 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Refugio State Beach sea temperature is
21.1° C
4.0° 

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 4 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, WNW 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★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period with WNW 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 (Aug 04) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s 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 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Tue 4th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s
Best Surf 5AM (Tue 4th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s
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

G’day, Rusty here. Lookin’ at Refugio State Beach over the next couple of weeks, it’s a real mellow scene. Swell energy’s sittin’ in that moderate range, with readings between 118 and 688, but wave heights are barely touchin’ 3 ft most days, and the wind’s got a cross-on or onshore tack to it a lot of the time. That means gutless, bumpy little lines if anythin’ shows. Water temp’s about normal for this time of year.

The first chance to wet a line is Thursday the 7th of August, early. Tiny 2 ft swell from the SSW with a real long 19-second period – proper groundswell – but weak. Combined energy’s 303, and the breeze is a near-calm Slight Air, so the surface is glassy. Long waits between sets, and it’s barely breakin’. Longboard territory if you’re patient. That little pattern drifts through Friday and Saturday, swell holdin’ at 2 ft to 2 ft, period droppin’ from 19 to 16 seconds. Winds stay light, so it stays clean but small.

Sunday the 9th of August gives you a light SSW wind at 3 mph, swell steady at 2 ft to 2 ft from the SSW at 15 seconds. Energy’s moderate at 272 to 274 – same story, not enough grunt.

Monday the 10th of August pushes the swell up to 3 ft from the WNW with a short 9-second period, energy at 324. That’s the most height we’ve seen, but it’s short-period and crumbly. Wind is a light cross-on from the south. Marginal.

The only real standout is the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August. A 2 ft SSW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, combined energy at 319. Wind is a light cross-on from the south at 6 mph, so a few ripples, but it’s the best quality you’ll see. That long period means long, fat, roly-poly lines suitin’ the point setup. Tiny, but clean. Good for beginners.

From Wednesday the 12th of August through to the end, it’s the same tune: 2 ft to 3 ft, periods 14 to 18 seconds, energy moderate (297 to 688), with light cross-on or onshore breezes. The afternoon of Saturday the 15th of August nudges energy to 688 with a 3 ft swell from the SSW at 16 seconds, but it’s still only “marginal.”

Best bet: Tuesday the 11th of August, early morning. Not big, not powerful, but the cleanest little window with that long-period groundswell. Bring a log.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
9
0.8
WNW
9
0.5
SW
14
0.9
WNW
8
0.4
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SSW
19
0.5
SSW
19
0.7
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
17
0.7
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
15
1.4
NW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
179
96
108
97
108
70
96
87
84
84
212
207
270
267
226
288
193
167
236
Wind (km/h)
0
NE
10
SW
15
WSW
0
NE
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
ENE
10
SSW
10
W
5
ENE
5
SSW
10
SW
0
S
10
SSE
10
SW
5
ESE
5
S
5
SW
10
ESE
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
cross
High Tide
1:32AM1.43m
2:20PM1.85m
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
Low Tide
8:03PM0.91m
7:25AM0.79m
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:13
6:15
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
7:59
7:58
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:53
 mm
Temp °C
22
27
28
23
25
27
23
27
30
24
28
28
23
28
29
24
29
27
23
Feels °C
22
26
27
23
24
26
22
26
29
23
28
28
24
28
29
24
29
27
24
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Refugio State Beach:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Refugio State Beach surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest