Surf Forecasts:
Tarpits surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 21s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, S swell with 573 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 22s 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 22s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s 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 1.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 22s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tarpits over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, mate, Rusty here. Let's be straight up with you about Tarpits.
Honestly, I've got nothing good to say for the next two weeks. We're looking at a solid run of poor conditions. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off for any decent surf.
The water's much warmer than normal for this time of year at 70°, which is nice for a paddle, but that's where the good news ends.
We kick off on Friday July 24th with tiny 1ft SW swell, but the onshore wind is just killing it. The combined wave energy is weak at (285) and it's just messy. This theme continues right through the first week. We get a little bump in size towards the end of July, with swell hitting around 3ft to 4ft from the south on the 31st and into August 1st, but it's still got that onshore or cross-onshore wind. Even when the swell period drops to 13-14 seconds, it's just not clean. The energy picks up a bit (430-504) but the conditions never line up.
After that little bump, we fade right off. By August 2nd, the swell drops back to 2ft to 2ft, and energy falls away to (155) or less. The final week from August 3rd to the 8th is just tiny, weak, and often cross-onshore again. We're talking 0.7ft to 1ft with energy in the (37-84) range. It's flat and blown out.
There's no standout period, no hidden gem. The wind is consistently onshore or cross-onshore, and even when it's light, the wave quality never gets above "poor" or "marginal." Given the beach and reef setup, with these conditions, it's honestly more of a kiteboarding window than a surfing one. For the surfer? Save your energy, mate. It's a long blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 24 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 141 | 180 | 305 | 171 | 251 | 251 | 216 | 209 | 280 | 312 | 255 | 309 | 377 | 237 | 232 | 223 | 217 | 157 | 264 | 407 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 6:50PM2.00m | 9:32AM1.42m | 7:34PM2.07m | 9:59AM1.46m | 8:13PM2.13m | 10:25AM1.49m | 8:50PM2.19m | 10:50AM1.52m | 9:25PM2.22m | 11:16AM1.55m | 10:00PM2.20m | 11:42AM1.59m | 10:33PM2.13m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:35AM0.38m | 1:13PM1.25m | 3:10AM0.30m | 1:58PM1.21m | 3:42AM0.24m | 2:36PM1.16m | 4:14AM0.20m | 3:13PM1.11m | 4:43AM0.19m | 3:50PM1.07m | 5:11AM0.22m | 4:29PM1.04m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 8:05 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 24 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | SSW 17 | W 10 | W 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 14 |
| kJ | 29 | 36 | 43 | 49 | 36 | 63 | 45 | 56 | 63 | 64 | 56 | 78 | 377 | 117 | 90 | 223 | 217 | 130 | 264 | 407 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 8 | W 7 | S 15 | SSW 15 | W 6 |
| kJ | 115 | 65 | 305 | 171 | 251 | 251 | 216 | 209 | 280 | 312 | 255 | 309 | 78 | 237 | 232 | 52 | 24 | 157 | 123 | 15 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 24 | SSW 21 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 15 | W 9 | W 7 | — |
| kJ | 141 | 180 | 41 | 17 | 27 | 27 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 48 | 74 | 116 | 73 | 55 | 25 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 0 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 30 | 0 | 121 | 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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