Surf Forecasts:
Tarpits surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, WNW swell with 240 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tarpits this week:
The surf forecast for Tarpits over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tarpits in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tarpits over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what’s happening at Tarpits.
Straight up, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for any real surfing. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak swell and mostly onshore winds that are just going to kill any chance of a decent wave. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
Starting Friday the 11th, and right through the weekend, we’ve got tiny waves, only around 2 ft from the SW, with a super long period around 14-16 seconds. That long-period groundswell sounds good in theory, but with the combined swell energy being weak (157), it’s just not packing enough punch. And the wind is blowing straight onshore, making it a total mess. This is a beginner spot anyway, but even for them, it’s not worth paddling out. This poor surf pattern just keeps repeating.
The whole first week is a write-off. Monday the 14th, Tuesday the 15th, Wednesday the 16th, all showing the same story: tiny waves, poor conditions, and combined swell energy barely getting past 100. It’s like the ocean forgot how to make a wave here.
There’s a small flicker of hope around Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th. We see the combined swell energy bump up to a moderate level (307 on Sunday), still with a 2 ft swell from the SW, but that long period (18 seconds) means it might actually hold a little shape. The wind also looks like it could be light and onshore or even just light. The forecast says the surf is still marginal, but it’s the best we’ve got. Still, don't get your hopes up.
After that, it’s back to the same old story of poor surf through the rest of the month. Tuesday the 22nd, Wednesday the 23rd, right through to Saturday the 26th – all tiny, all weak, all blown out. There is nothing here that stands out as worth chasing. If you’re desperate for a paddle, maybe, but don't expect to catch anything.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 118 | 107 | 104 | 102 | 52 | 164 | 148 | 139 | 117 | 142 | 76 | 74 | 81 | 51 | 37 | 119 | 74 | 100 | 98 | 56 | 84 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross | on | on | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:28AM2.00m | 10:31PM2.00m | 10:56AM2.04m | 11:16PM1.83m | 11:25AM2.05m | 00:03AM1.64m | 11:54AM2.02m | 00:57AM1.46m | 12:25PM1.96m | 2:11AM1.31m | 1:01PM1.87m | 4:59AM1.25m | 1:50PM1.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:27PM0.56m | 4:42AM0.47m | 5:12PM0.52m | 5:09AM0.65m | 5:58PM0.52m | 5:34AM0.83m | 6:48PM0.56m | 5:56AM1.00m | 7:46PM0.62m | 6:12AM1.14m | 9:01PM0.68m | 5:43AM1.25m | 10:34PM0.68m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | W 5 |
| kJ | 118 | 107 | 22 | 22 | 14 | 54 | 148 | 139 | 100 | 142 | 76 | 74 | 81 | 51 | 20 | 14 | 74 | 100 | 98 | 56 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 5 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 4 | W 4 | S 12 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 14 | 9 | 104 | 102 | 52 | 49 | 46 | 28 | 47 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 41 | 39 | 24 | 119 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 44 | 84 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | S 8 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSE 3 | SSW 19 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 21 | S 11 |
| kJ | 9 | 8 | 21 | 18 | 35 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 37 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 9 | 45 | 39 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 5 | — | W 4 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | SSE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 32 | — | 21 | 164 | — | 38 | 117 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 28 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 118 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 49 | 0 | 113 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 30 | 0 | 85 | 30 | 0 | 285 | 4 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tarpits Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tarpits provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tarpits can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tarpits 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 (Tarpits) 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 Tarpits 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.
Tarpits is 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Santa Ana. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Santa Ana. Santa Ana has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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