Surf Forecasts:
Tarpits surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, S swell with 236 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period with S 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 (Jul 31) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tarpits in the next 16 days are 0.8m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
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 on the cards for Tarpits over the next 16 days.
Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – the outlook is a bit of a bummer. There's nothing that's really going to get the heart pumping. The whole 16-day forecast is a long, flat stretch with no real swell to speak of. We're looking at a run of poor surf conditions from the get-go, and it doesn't look like it's gonna change.
The first chance to even get wet is on Thursday, 30 July. The water is a balmy 69°, which is a solid 5° warmer than what's normal for this time of year – that's pretty unusual, so you won't need a thick wetsuit. The swell is a tiny 3 ft from the south, with a very long 15-second period. That long period means there's some energy in the water, and the combined energy is moderate at 406, but the wind is onshore from the WSW at 9 mph. That's going to make it a messy, choppy affair. The conditions are just poor.
From Friday, 31 July, right through to the end of the forecast on Friday, 14 August, it's a real grind. The swell drops to 2 ft or less, with periods ranging from 7 to 20 seconds. The wind is mostly light onshore or cross-onshore from the SW or WSW, keeping the surface choppy and messy. The combined energy is weak, usually under 100, and only occasionally creeping into the low 100s. The highest energy I see is on Saturday, 8 August, with 156, but that's still a tiny 1 ft swell. There's just no power or shape to work with.
The bottom line is, there are no standouts here. For a beginner-friendly spot that's fairly consistent, this is a tough run. It's a beach and reef setup, but with this much onshore wind and tiny swell, it's more of a place to sit on the sand than to paddle out. The light winds do keep it from being a total washing machine, but it's still not surfable. Keep an eye on the charts, because it tends not to stay this flat forever.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 9 | S 12 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 6 | W 9 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 272 | 192 | 120 | 107 | 56 | 76 | 77 | 27 | 87 | 81 | 33 | 79 | 37 | 25 | 36 | 34 | 51 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:33PM2.13m | 12:07PM1.64m | 11:08PM2.01m | 12:34PM1.69m | 11:45PM1.86m | 1:01PM1.76m | 00:28AM1.67m | 1:33PM1.82m | 1:23AM1.47m | 2:11PM1.88m | 2:46AM1.28m | 3:01PM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:29PM1.04m | 5:38AM0.28m | 5:10PM1.02m | 6:03AM0.38m | 5:56PM0.99m | 6:27AM0.50m | 6:49PM0.96m | 6:51AM0.65m | 7:53PM0.92m | 7:17AM0.80m | 9:15PM0.84m | 7:48AM0.95m | 10:48PM0.71m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 24 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 14 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 6 | W 9 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 272 | 192 | 48 | 32 | 46 | 76 | 51 | 26 | 87 | 81 | 33 | 79 | 37 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 31 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 6 | S 12 | SSW 14 | S 11 | SSW 13 | S 12 | WNW 9 | SSW 9 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 8 |
| kJ | 28 | 24 | 72 | 107 | 37 | 68 | 77 | 27 | 16 | 27 | 26 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 36 | 15 | 51 | 32 | 32 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSE 10 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SW 14 | SSW 10 | SW 14 | SSW 8 | SW 13 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | S 10 | S 13 | SW 11 | S 9 |
| kJ | 85 | 20 | 120 | 42 | 56 | 17 | 29 | 19 | 29 | 7 | 27 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 14 | 34 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | W 2 | W 6 |
| kJ | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | 1 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 118 | 4 | 0 | 121 | 4 | 4 | 121 | 30 | 0 | 121 | 4 | 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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