Refugio State Beach surf break

Refugio State Beach surfForecast / CAL – Santa Barbara / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Friday 29 May 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Refugio State Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Refugio State Beach sea temperature is
14.2° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 29 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 31 May, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 30 May, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, WNW swell with 1,427 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 29 May, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s 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 Friday (May 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s. 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 2.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 30) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jun 02) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 29th May)3ft (0.9m) 15s
Best Surf 8AM (Sun 31st May)8ft (2.4m) 10s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 30th May)7ft (2.1m) 13s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
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
0
2
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
1
1
3
2
3
3
3
2
3
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
16
1
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
14
0.8
WNW
13
1.8
WNW
7
2.2
WNW
9
2
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
11
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1.9
WNW
9
2.2
WNW
8
2.2
WNW
8
1.8
WNW
8
1.5
WNW
10
1
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
532
499
367
229
299
783
756
686
531
651
637
481
402
392
382
516
620
667
444
419
644
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
25
WNW
10
NNW
10
WSW
20
NW
15
NNW
10
SW
15
WNW
5
NNW
10
SSW
10
WSW
10
NNW
10
WSW
20
WNW
15
NNW
10
WSW
15
NW
10
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
ENE
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
10:14AM1.46m
8:53PM2.13m
10:59AM1.46m
9:24PM2.13m
11:42AM1.45m
9:57PM2.12m
12:28PM1.43m
10:32PM2.09m
1:17PM1.41m
11:07PM2.04m
2:11PM1.40m
11:43PM1.96m
3:06PM1.42m
00:21AM1.87m
Low Tide
2:37PM1.10m
4:17AM0.24m
3:09PM1.15m
4:54AM0.22m
3:41PM1.19m
5:32AM0.23m
4:13PM1.22m
6:13AM0.26m
4:46PM1.26m
6:54AM0.31m
5:23PM1.30m
7:36AM0.37m
6:11PM1.34m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:48
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:05
8:06
8:06
8:07
8:07
8:07
8:08
Temp °C
20
24
16
23
25
16
25
26
19
23
25
20
23
25
17
23
26
17
22
24
19
17
20
13
21
22
12
23
24
15
22
24
19
21
22
13
21
23
14
21
23
18
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
WNW
16
1
WNW
16
0.9
WNW
14
0.8
WNW
13
0.7
NW
13
0.4
SSW
22
1.6
WNW
12
0.8
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
18
1.3
WNW
11
1.1
WNW
10
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1.4
WNW
9
0.6
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
18
1.4
WNW
8
0.8
SSW
17
1
SSW
18
Energy kJ
532
499
367
229
178
181
701
485
531
372
251
481
402
392
382
288
138
289
256
351
644
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
WNW
10
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
20
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SW
15
1
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
13
0.2
SSE
15
0.3
SSE
15
0.4
SW
20
0.7
SW
15
0.6
SSW
18
0.7
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
20
0.2
SSE
13
Energy kJ
128
107
105
111
69
121
346
102
54
651
637
68
22
42
98
223
211
188
343
253
16
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
14
0.1
S
21
0.2
SSW
19
0.2
SSW
19
0.4
SW
23
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
12
0.2
S
13
0.2
SSE
16
0.3
SSE
15
0.2
S
12
0.1
SW
22
0.3
SSE
15
0.4
SSW
20
0.4
SW
21
0.2
SSE
13
0.7
SSW
20
0.3
SSE
13
0.2
SSE
13
Energy kJ
145
9
37
34
130
64
103
33
28
14
24
44
12
18
44
149
117
17
336
33
16
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
WNW
5
1.3
WNW
6
1.1
WNW
7
1.8
WNW
7
2.2
WNW
9
2
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.5
WNW
10
1.2
WNW
10
1
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
6
1.7
WNW
7
1.9
WNW
9
2.2
WNW
8
2.2
WNW
8
1.8
WNW
8
1.5
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
9
Energy kJ
88
97
108
299
783
756
686
469
475
275
183
138
320
516
620
667
444
419
377
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
2
3
1
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
22
56
0
170
56
0
170
3
0
170
22
0
22
56
0
56
0
0
168
22
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
4
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
3
3
4
3
3
4
2
3
4
3
3
4
3
3
4
3
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
7
7
6
5
5
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
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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