Surf Forecasts:
Tarpits surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s period, SSW swell with 146 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tarpits in the next 16 days are 0.4m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tarpits over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the surf is flat as a pancake for a long stretch. The first surfable day that shows up on the cards is August 5th, but it’s not worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a solid gap of nearly two weeks of poor conditions before anything even remotely interesting happens.
The first real sniff of action comes on August 18th, late in the afternoon. That’s when a little bump of 4 ft at 6 seconds from the WNW shows up. The combined energy is 329 (moderate), but that period is way too short – it’s gonna be a messy, crumbly mess. The wind is onshore but light, so it’s not a total loss, but it’s definitely not a standout.
The one true standout in this whole 16-day window lands on Saturday, August 15th. The morning brings a 2 ft SSW swell, but the real juice is the afternoon: 2 ft from the SSW with a 16-second period. That’s a long period groundswell! The combined energy jumps to 267 (moderate). Now, here’s the thing: Tarpits is a beach and reef setup. With that long period, the waves are gonna have good shape, but it might break a bit straight out on the beach. The reef might be the go. Wind is a cross-on, gentle breeze, so it’ll be a little bumpy, but not blown out. This is the best we’ve got! The water is a crazy 7° warmer than usual right now – 70° – so it’s a real treat for the time of year.
After that, the swell hangs around into the 19th and 20th, with a bit of a shift to the west. On August 19th, we get 3 ft from the west at 9 seconds (208 energy), and on the 20th, 3 ft at 10 seconds (209 energy). Both with light offshore winds in the morning. Clean, but small. These are your second-week options – not huge, but if you’re desperate, the early morning glass-off could give you a few fun ones.
Honestly, if you’re waiting for a big one, this isn’t the window. But that Saturday afternoon on the 15th has a bit of soul to it, and the water is warm. Keep an eye on the forecast, things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 31 | 50 | 46 | 44 | 31 | 73 | 72 | 120 | 120 | 102 | 146 | 86 | 84 | 82 | 73 | 59 | 58 | 35 | 80 | 79 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:01PM1.95m | 5:01AM1.19m | 4:04PM2.02m | 7:13AM1.25m | 5:14PM2.12m | 8:16AM1.36m | 6:21PM2.24m | 8:57AM1.47m | 7:21PM2.36m | 9:33AM1.56m | 8:16PM2.44m | 10:07AM1.66m | 9:06PM2.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:48PM0.71m | 8:32AM1.09m | 00:11AM0.52m | 9:55AM1.20m | 1:15AM0.31m | 11:37AM1.23m | 2:07AM0.13m | 12:56PM1.17m | 2:53AM0.01m | 1:59PM1.08m | 3:35AM-0.06m | 2:54PM0.97m | 4:14AM-0.05m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | W 4 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 31 | 6 | 46 | 44 | 27 | 73 | 72 | 120 | 120 | 102 | 146 | 86 | 84 | 82 | 73 | 59 | 58 | 33 | 80 | 79 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 14 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 4 | W 4 | SW 12 | W 4 | WSW 4 | SSW 11 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 5 | 50 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 42 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 9 | S 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | W 4 | W 4 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 4 | SSW 12 | W 12 | W 4 | SSW 11 | WNW 7 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | W 6 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 11 | 39 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 42 | 22 | 1 | 29 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 37 | 37 | 35 | 6 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | WSW 4 | — | — | SW 9 | W 4 | — | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 11 |
| kJ | 10 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 12 | 12 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 30 | 0 | 86 | 30 | 0 | 121 | 30 | 0 | 285 | 4 | 0 | 84 | 85 | 0 | 118 | 73 | 0 | 21 | 85 | 4 |
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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