Santa Barbara County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Hammonds Reef for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Hammonds Reef, Santa Barbara County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 0–1ft, 19s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with calm winds.
Thu, Jul 2: 0–1ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle ESE breeze.
Fri, Jul 3: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with gentle SE breeze.
Sat, Jul 4: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light SSE winds.
Hammonds Reef is a solid reef break located along Santa Barbara County's scenic coastline, offering consistent waves when Southern California swell pulses through the region. The reef bottom creates well-defined peaks and a peeling wave face that rewards surfers with good positioning and reef knowledge. Best suited for intermediate surfers, this spot fires during fall and winter swells while maintaining shape through most conditions thanks to its protected reef structure.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Hammonds Reef is 0-1ft with a 19s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Hammonds Reef is 0-1ft, produced by a 1ft WSW primary swell at 6s, a 0.5ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Hammonds Reef is Thursday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 1ft waves, a 15.45s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Hammonds Reef works best with a S swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Hammonds Reef. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Hammonds Reef is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Hammonds Reef is a solid reef break located along Santa Barbara County's scenic coastline, offering consistent waves when Southern California swell pulses through the region. The reef bottom creates well-defined peaks and a peeling wave face that rewards surfers with good positioning and reef knowledge. Best suited for intermediate surfers, this spot fires during fall and winter swells while maintaining shape through most conditions thanks to its protected reef structure.
The prime season at Hammonds Reef is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Hammonds Reef include reef, sharp rocks, strong currents, sea urchins. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Hammonds Reef forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
