Tarantulas Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.50° N 120.50° W

Tarantulas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tarantulas sea temperature is
17.1° C
0.4° 

Tarantulas surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Tarantulas surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,134 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period with NW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tarantulas this week:

The surf forecast for Tarantulas over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 2.2m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Tarantulas in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) 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 0.3m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 31st Jul)8ft (2.4m) 8s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 31st Jul)8ft (2.4m) 8s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug)8ft (2.5m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tarantulas over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We're looking at a pretty patchy run overall, with no real standout days. The surf starts off small and messy, and honestly, it's a bit of a struggle to find a good window. The water is sitting at 63° which is pretty much normal for this time of year.

First up, we've got Thursday the 30th of July. The morning shows a 3 ft swell from the SSW with a long 16-second period, but the wind is a cross-on from the W at 9 mph, making it choppy. The combined energy is moderate (1168). It's not great, but it's something. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 6 ft from the NW, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds and the wind picks up to 16 mph from the NW, creating a messy cross-chop. Not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 31st of July is more of the same. A 6 ft NW swell at 8 seconds in the morning with a cross wind, and the afternoon is even worse with 16 mph winds. The energy is dropping (951). Honestly, it's a write-off.

The weekend isn't much better. Saturday the 1st of August has a 7 ft NW swell in the morning, but it's short-period and cross-shore. The afternoon does get a clean look with a cross-offshore wind from the NNW at 19 mph, but it's still a short-period 7 ft NW swell. That's getting big, and with that wind, it's one for the experts only, and even then it's a bit of a gamble.

Sunday the 2nd of August is the most promising of the first week. The morning has an 8 ft NW swell with a 9-second period, and the afternoon holds 8 ft NW. The afternoon wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NW at 16 mph. The energy is strong (1033-1159). This is the only window that might offer some decent, clean waves at Tarantulas, but it's solidly in the expert-only zone at that size. After that, it's a long stretch of mediocrity.

From Monday the 3rd of August through to around Wednesday the 13th of August, there's a near-constant run of cross-shore or cross-onshore winds, mostly with short-period NW swell. The swell height fluctuates between 4 ft and 7 ft, but the quality is consistently let down by the wind. The energy is all over the place, from a weak 282 up to a strong 1808, but the wind just kills it. There's a brief moment on the morning of Tuesday the 5th of August with a 4 ft NW swell and a light offshore wind from the WSW, but the wave comment is "unknown" which doesn't inspire confidence.

The second week sees a drop in swell size. By Thursday the 7th of August, the morning shows a 5 ft NW swell with a 10-second period and moderate energy (1119), but the wind is cross-shore. The afternoons are consistently poor.

The 8th of August is interesting. The swell drops to 2 ft from the SSW with a very long 18-second period. The afternoon gets a clean cross-offshore wind, but it's tiny. That long period groundswell might wrap in and offer some clean little lines if the tide is right, but it's a gamble.

After that, it's a long, drawn-out tail of small, messy NW swell. The 13th and 14th of August have some small, long-period SSW and SW swells (2 ft to 3 ft, 15-16 seconds), but the winds are cross or cross-on, making it a tough call.

In short, there's no epic run here. The best bet is probably the afternoon of Sunday the 2nd of August for the big, clean swell, but only for the crew with the skills and the balls. Everything else is a case of watching, waiting, and hoping the wind charts change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
1
0
3
1
1
3
2
2
3
1
2
3
2
2
3
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
NW
8
1.8
NW
8
2.2
NW
8
1.9
NW
8
1.8
NW
8
2.3
NW
8
2.1
NW
8
2.2
NW
8
2.5
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
2.4
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
2.2
NW
10
2.2
NW
10
1.9
NW
10
1.8
NW
10
1.7
NW
10
1.5
NW
10
1.3
NW
9
1.2
NW
9
1.1
NW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
424
418
655
434
388
742
589
624
1134
993
904
1069
910
932
665
597
546
416
266
230
235
Wind (km/h)
15
W
25
NW
15
NNW
15
WNW
25
NW
20
NNW
20
NW
30
NNW
20
NNW
20
NW
25
NW
20
NNW
15
WNW
20
NW
10
N
10
W
10
WNW
0
ENE
10
WSW
20
WNW
10
N
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
glassy
on
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:57AM1.55m
10:44PM2.07m
12:23PM1.60m
11:19PM1.96m
12:49PM1.66m
11:58PM1.81m
1:17PM1.72m
00:42AM1.62m
1:48PM1.79m
1:40AM1.43m
2:26PM1.85m
3:05AM1.26m
3:14PM1.92m
Low Tide
4:40PM1.06m
5:50AM0.29m
5:23PM1.03m
6:16AM0.38m
6:10PM1.00m
6:41AM0.51m
7:05PM0.96m
7:05AM0.65m
8:11PM0.90m
7:32AM0.80m
9:31PM0.82m
8:03AM0.94m
11:01PM0.68m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:15
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:05
8:04
8:04
8:02
8:01
8:00
8:00
 mm
Temp °C
19
21
17
21
22
16
23
23
16
22
21
16
20
21
17
19
19
17
19
20
18
Feels °C
17
17
13
18
18
12
19
18
12
19
17
12
18
18
14
19
19
15
19
19
16
  • 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 Tarantulas Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Tarantulas provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tarantulas can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tarantulas 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 (Tarantulas) 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 Tarantulas 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.

Tarantulas is 16 km (10 miles) from Lompoc. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Lompoc. Lompoc has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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