Santa Barbara County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on WSW swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. The SE wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on WSW swell at 7s with light NW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with light NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the ESE.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 22s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with gentle SE breeze.
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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 3-4ft with a 9.8s swell period. Wind is SW at 2mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Hammonds Reef is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.9ft WSW primary swell at 10s, a 0.6ft SSW secondary swell at 15s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 12.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
