Tarpits Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.39° N 119.51° W

Tarpits Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Tarpits sea temperature is
21.0° C
3.5° 

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


Tarpits surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 146 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 5s 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 0.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 18th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 14s
Best Surf 2AM (Tue 18th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 14s
Most Powerful11AM (Tue 18th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Tarpits over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it's a pretty quiet picture. The water is sitting at a warm 70°, which is a solid 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's seriously unusual and means you can leave the thick suit at home.

But the surf? Yeah, not much to get excited about. The whole 16-day window is one long stretch of small, weak, and frankly poor conditions. From Monday the 17th right through to the afternoon of Tuesday the 1st of September, every single session is rated zero out of ten. We're looking at tiny swell, mostly around 1.0 ft to 2 ft from the SSW and SW, with a combined wave energy that barely gets into the moderate range – you'll see readings like 160 (moderate energy) dropping right down to 72 (weak energy) on the 21st. The wind is mostly light and onshore or cross-onshore, so it's going to be choppy and bumpy. There is a brief bump in energy on the 25th afternoon with a 3 ft swell from the west, but that comes with a short, weak period of just 6 seconds and a gentle breeze right onshore – that's not surf, that's just messy wind chop. Kite surfers might find some fun in that, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a pass.

Later in the second week, around the 29th of August, we see the numbers start to climb significantly. The combined energy jumps to 436 (strong energy) and 412 with 3 ft swell from the SSW at a very long 18-second period. That's groundswell, and it's got some proper push behind it. But the catch is the same old story: light onshore or cross-onshore wind. For a spot like Tarpits, which is a beach and reef setup, that long-period swell can create some tricky, straight-looking waves. It's a tease. The best you can really hope for is a tiny, clean little wave on one of the mornings with light onshore wind and a tiny bump of swell, like Thursday the 20th afternoon with a 1 ft SSW swell at 14 seconds and a slight cross-onshore breeze – but even that's rated poor.

There are no standouts here. Honestly, for the entire 16-day run, you're better off finding something else to do. The forecasts can change, and sometimes a blank run like this turns around, but based on what I'm seeing right now, don't hold your breath.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
15
0.5
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
13
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
9
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.4
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
16
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
140
116
146
68
81
130
138
85
81
81
79
35
58
40
60
43
71
50
57
68
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
5
WNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
ENE
10
SSW
5
SSW
5
E
10
SW
10
WSW
5
E
10
SW
10
WSW
0
ESE
10
SW
10
WSW
0
NW
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
2:17AM1.35m
2:16PM1.87m
4:12AM1.22m
3:08PM1.83m
4:16PM1.81m
8:37AM1.35m
5:27PM1.84m
8:51AM1.42m
6:27PM1.91m
9:08AM1.47m
7:14PM2.00m
Low Tide
8:29PM0.77m
7:21AM0.98m
9:53PM0.77m
7:43AM1.14m
11:26PM0.71m
00:40AM0.61m
10:34AM1.34m
1:31AM0.51m
12:12PM1.32m
2:10AM0.41m
1:08PM1.25m
2:42AM0.33m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:20
6:22
6:22
6:22
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:43
7:42
7:40
7:39
7:37
7:37
7:36
 mm
Temp °C
27
25
28
29
27
30
29
27
30
30
26
29
30
26
30
30
27
30
30
27
Feels °C
26
25
28
29
28
30
29
28
30
31
28
30
31
27
30
30
28
31
30
28
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  • 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 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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