Santa Barbara County, California
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light SE winds.
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light SE winds.
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with gentle SE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with gentle E breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 17mph by PM.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with gentle NE breeze.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the NNW.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the N.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Hammonds Reef turns Good.
Check Hammonds Reef from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 4.9s swell period. Wind is SE at 5mph. 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 1.2ft WSW wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.8ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 13.6s 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
