Refugio State Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.46° N 120.08° W

Issued: 10 pm 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Refugio State Beach sea temperature is
17.2° C

1.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 7 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, WNW swell with 924 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 20s 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 (Jul 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 20s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 16s. 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 2.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Tue 7th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 20s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 9s
Most Powerful 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 9s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Refugio State Beach.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, and I’d say patience is the name of the game. We’re looking at a long stretch where the surf is holding on but not really firing, with a lot of sessions rated as marginal. The first real run of surfable energy doesn’t show up until mid-month, with a couple of late-period swells rolling in, but the wind and tide are going to be fussy. The standout actually falls on the back half of the forecast, so don’t write the whole thing off.

From Tuesday, July 7th through to the end of the first week, we’ve got a long-period SSW groundswell hanging around, but it’s small – only about 3 ft to 3 ft. The energy is moderate, with combined swell energy readings between 358 and 954, but the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, making it choppy and tough to enjoy. Thursday afternoon, July 9th, sees a slight improvement with a switch to a 6 ft WNW swell at 9 seconds, but it’s still cross-shore and messy. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so not a wetsuit issue, just a frustrating wave quality one.

The real promising window opens up around Wednesday, July 15th. That morning, the wind goes glassy with a 4 ft WNW swell at 9 seconds. The combined energy is low at 363, but with perfect conditions, that’s a sneaky clean day. The highlight, though, is Saturday, July 18th. The afternoon session is the one to circle: glassy conditions, a 4 ft WNW swell, still a short period at 9 seconds, but with a combined energy of 688 and zero wind, the wave quality is expected to be very good. That’s the best on offer. Remember, Refugio is a beach and point break, fairly exposed, and crowds are often around, so expect company on that clean day.

After that, the swell drops off fast. By Sunday, July 19th, we’re back to weak 2 ft SW groundswell with onshore winds, and the final week looks pretty flat or poor. The last few days show small, inconsistent waves with poor wind conditions, so don’t hold your breath for the 22nd.

For an area that’s fairly consistent, this run is a bit of a dud, but that glassy Saturday afternoon is worth the wait. Keep an eye on the forecasts – it tends not to stay poor for long.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Mon
13
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
3
2
2
3
1
2
3
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
20
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
18
1
SSW
16
2
WNW
8
2
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
9
1.7
WNW
9
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
1.4
NW
9
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
13
0.8
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
336
666
491
399
559
447
658
535
464
455
298
246
309
246
252
220
297
236
207
201
201
Wind (km/h)
15
NNW
10
W
20
NW
15
NNW
15
W
20
NW
10
N
10
WSW
5
WNW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SSE
5
SSW
5
S
10
SSW
10
SW
5
ESE
5
SSW
10
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
High Tide
2:54AM1.37m
4:09PM1.84m
4:41AM1.25m
4:53PM1.96m
6:34AM1.23m
5:43PM2.10m
8:02AM1.29m
6:36PM2.24m
9:05AM1.38m
7:30PM2.37m
9:55AM1.45m
8:24PM2.47m
10:40AM1.52m
Low Tide
9:52PM1.04m
8:59AM0.78m
11:17PM0.85m
9:42AM0.92m
00:28AM0.62m
10:39AM1.03m
1:27AM0.38m
11:45AM1.11m
2:20AM0.16m
12:53PM1.13m
3:10AM-0.01m
1:55PM1.12m
3:58AM-0.12m
2:54PM1.08m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:14
8:14
8:14
 mm
Temp °C
20
27
30
20
30
33
21
31
31
23
26
27
22
25
25
20
25
26
22
26
28
Feels °C
17
25
28
17
28
30
19
29
30
21
25
26
22
25
25
21
25
26
23
26
27
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
16
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
18
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1.4
WNW
9
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
1.3
WNW
9
0.8
SSW
15
1.1
WNW
8
1
WNW
8
0.8
WNW
8
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
WNW
8
0.8
SSW
13
Energy kJ
322
666
491
399
559
412
417
315
322
318
262
246
164
131
76
220
297
236
207
71
201
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
20
0.4
NW
12
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
16
0.2
SSW
19
1.1
WNW
6
0.9
SSW
16
0.1
S
9
0.1
S
9
0.8
SSW
15
0.1
S
21
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
WNW
8
0.7
WNW
8
0.8
WNW
9
0.1
SW
21
0.8
SSW
13
0.3
SW
19
Energy kJ
336
35
142
140
339
37
82
412
2
2
298
9
242
246
252
73
50
88
18
201
59
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
8
0.1
S
7
0.3
SSW
11
0.2
WNW
11
0.3
S
19
0.1
S
9
0.6
SSW
16
0.1
S
10
0.4
S
16
0.4
S
16
0.1
S
11
0.2
S
18
0.1
S
18
0.2
S
19
0.2
S
19
0.3
S
18
0.1
SE
12
0.2
W
17
0.1
SE
11
0.2
W
16
0.2
W
16
Energy kJ
4
1
24
12
66
2
175
2
82
79
2
25
6
29
30
54
6
24
5
21
20
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
WNW
6
1.2
WNW
7
1.9
WNW
6
2
WNW
6
1.4
WNW
8
2
WNW
8
2
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
9
1.7
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
9
1.4
NW
9
0.9
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
8
0.9
WNW
9
Energy kJ
170
136
297
319
290
447
658
535
464
455
203
309
106
179
111
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
Distance (km)
0
22
56
0
3
21
0
22
3
0
22
22
0
86
170
31
117
22
0
13
22
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
2
4
2
2
4
3
3
4
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
9
8
7
7
7
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
6
8
6
5
5
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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