Surf Forecasts:
Refugio State Beach surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with 751 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s is also forecast. 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 1.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Refugio State Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk surf in feet and miles per hour.
Over the next 16 days, Refugio State Beach is mostly calm and small. The water is way warmer than normal – about 70°, which is 7° warmer than usual – really weird, feels like bath water.
Friday August 28th starts off with weak 2ft swell from the SSW, long period of 19 seconds, but cross wind. Very marginal. Saturday the 29th shows 3ft from the SSW, period dropping from 17 to 16 seconds, and the afternoon has a clean cross-off wind from the NNW at 16 mph. That afternoon is the best of a quiet start.
Sunday the 30th is more 3ft, but winds are cross, period down to 14 seconds – not great.
Monday the 31st and Tuesday September 1st are almost flat – swell drops to 2ft or less, poor wind, very low energy. That’s a gap of 2-3 days with nothing.
A very slight bump appears Wednesday September 2nd, but it’s small and onshore.
The real highlight comes Friday September 4th afternoon: 3ft from the SSW, 16-second period, cross-off wind from the NNW at 6 mph, clean. Moderate energy. That’s your best session of the whole run.
Monday September 7th morning is glassy – zero wind, 3ft from the SSW, 14-second period. That’s a great chance for a clean, small-wave session.
The second week, from September 8th on, is small and messy. There’s a pulse of 3ft from the S on Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th, but with onshore wind.
The last day, Saturday September 12th, shows 5ft from the WNW in the morning, but only an 8-second period – short period windswell. Afternoon hits 6ft from the WNW with just 7 seconds. That’s junk – more for kite surfing than paddling with that chop.
So your standouts: Friday September 4th afternoon for clean, long-period swell, and Monday September 7th morning for glass. Everything else is quiet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 35°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 322 | 329 | 751 | 601 | 532 | 612 | 417 | 400 | 325 | 229 | 163 | 154 | 114 | 96 | 139 | 177 | 130 | 202 | 240 | 390 | 404 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:53AM1.73m | 10:24PM1.98m | 11:16AM1.80m | 11:03PM1.85m | 11:41AM1.87m | 11:47PM1.69m | 12:09PM1.93m | 00:39AM1.51m | 12:44PM1.96m | 1:48AM1.33m | 1:27PM1.97m | 3:39AM1.21m | 2:26PM1.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:23PM0.82m | 4:57AM0.42m | 5:05PM0.75m | 5:21AM0.54m | 5:51PM0.69m | 5:45AM0.68m | 6:44PM0.65m | 6:10AM0.83m | 7:48PM0.63m | 6:36AM0.98m | 9:08PM0.60m | 7:06AM1.11m | 10:42PM0.52m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 34 | 35 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 21 | 28 | 30 | 18 | 24 | 25 | 18 | 25 | 27 | 18 | 27 | 29 | 22 | 27 | 28 | 20 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 17 | 26 | 27 | 15 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 23 | 25 | 15 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 64 | 329 | 751 | 601 | 532 | 612 | 417 | 400 | 325 | 229 | 163 | 103 | 114 | 96 | 139 | 177 | 82 | 202 | 240 | 189 | 231 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 14 | S 9 | SSE 12 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 322 | 41 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 21 | 2 | 49 | 126 | 115 | 154 | 61 | 55 | 109 | 130 | 99 | 200 | 115 | 390 | 404 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 16 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 21 | SW 21 | W 11 | SW 19 | WNW 10 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 9 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SSE 9 | SW 20 | W 13 | NW 13 |
| kJ | 91 | 62 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 50 | 3 | 14 | 130 | 8 | 99 | 3 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | NW 5 |
| kJ | 144 | 83 | 128 | 263 | 262 | 277 | 279 | 257 | 106 | 96 | 83 | 31 | 11 | 39 | 26 | 12 | 20 | 33 | 40 | 77 | 56 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 21 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 164 | 21 | 0 | 293 | 22 | 0 | 33 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 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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