Santa Barbara Surf
Detailed Santa Barbara surf forecast maps and the latest eyeball surf report from local surfers in the region. Near-shore swell is shown on the map together with the surf forecast rating for spots in Santa Barbara. Find the best places to surf in offshore conditions by selecting the wind option on the forecast map. Windsurfers and kite surfers can also use this option to find more favorable cross-shore conditions in Santa Barbara. Our local Wavefinder indicates where some of the best conditions are likely to be found in Santa Barbara over the next 7 days. Surf photos from Santa Barbara and reviews of the best spots and surfing conditions have been provided by local surfers.
Santa Barbara Surf Forecast map for predicting the best wave and wind conditions across the region. For surfers, the map shows the most powerful swell tracking across near-shore open water and not the peak waves experienced by boats out at sea. Move your mouse over the ocean swell symbols or the surf breaks on the coastline to see a more detailed surf forecast including wave period and wind conditions. The forecast updates every 6 hours and most live weather reports update every hour. You can animate the Santa Barbara Surf map or show live wind and wave conditions as reported from wavebuoys and local weather stations. Surf breaks shown along the Santa Barbara coastline are also listed below.
Santa Barbara Photos
Santa Barbara Wavefinder
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | SW 24 | S 13 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | NW 9 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 |
 kJ | 311 | 541 | 141 | 664 | 404 | 288 | 546 | 251 | 559 | 614 | 559 | 325 | 1046 | 358 | 377 | 1182 | 541 | 223 | 568 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 9:13AM1.37m | 6:53PM1.97m | 9:37AM1.39m | 7:36PM2.03m | 9:59AM1.46m | 8:17PM2.10m | 10:30AM1.46m | 8:58PM2.14m | 10:58AM1.49m | 9:34PM2.16m | 11:31AM1.51m | 10:09PM2.14m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:00AM0.47m | 12:33PM1.26m | 2:40AM0.37m | 1:15PM1.23m | 3:15AM0.29m | 1:58PM1.21m | 2:01PM1.20m | 3:48AM0.23m | 2:40PM1.16m | 4:25AM0.20m | 3:18PM1.11m | 4:55AM0.19m | 3:54PM1.07m | ||||||
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mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Max °C | 23 | 19 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 24 | 30 | 31 | 17 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 22 | 28 | 19 |
Min °C | 21 | 16 | 28 | 21 | 25 | 29 | 22 | 27 | 33 | 21 | 25 | 31 | 16 | 24 | 31 | 16 | 20 | 27 | 16 |
Chill °C | 23 | 19 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 24 | 30 | 31 | 16 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 22 | 28 | 19 |
 | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | SW 21 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 19 | W 7 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | WNW 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 156 | 189 | 91 | 664 | 104 | 101 | 546 | 48 | 559 | 614 | 137 | 325 | 798 | 202 | 377 | 770 | 541 | 94 | 568 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 24 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | S 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | S 10 | SW 17 | S 19 | SE 14 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 101 | 541 | 116 | 134 | 404 | 288 | 43 | 251 | 24 | 23 | 559 | 129 | 2 | 358 | 178 | 51 | 525 | 193 | 275 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 6 | — | WNW 7 | NW 7 | — | WNW 7 | NW 9 | — | WNW 9 | NW 9 | — | — | NW 8 |
| kJ | 311 | 242 | — | 228 | 71 | — | 127 | — | 263 | 428 | — | 228 | 1046 | — | 202 | 1182 | — | — | 560 |
Sea °C | 21 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Diff °C | |||||||||||||||||||
Santa Barbara Surf Breaks
Santa Barbara is a south facing coastline and is best surfed in the winter and the fall. SW and W swells work best but large parts are blocked by 4 channel islands that sit just off the coast. Fantastic area to explore with plenty of facilities and parking at most of the popular breaks. The whole of the area can get very crowded and locals tend to like to keep thing to themselves so respect local etiquette. There are a mixture of sand and reef breaks. Early morning sessions are always scored best.
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