Santa Barbara County, California
Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 4s with 14mph NW winds.
Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 4s with 14mph NW winds.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Jalama Beach County Park, 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: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on NW swell at 7s with 14mph NW winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 18mph and very poor by then.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 10s and 10mph from the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the W and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NW swell at 11s with 10mph NNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, 15mph out of the NNW, good conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on S swell at 13s with moderate NNW wind around 11mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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 Jalama Beach County Park turns Good.
Check Jalama Beach County Park from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Jalama Beach is a scenic sandy beach break located on the remote northern edge of Santa Barbara County, offering consistent winter swells wrapped around the point with a northeast-facing exposure. The beach setup provides fun, workable waves across a range of skill levels, with the advantage of relatively uncrowded conditions due to its isolated location and small parking area. The picturesque setting between rugged cliffs and a protected cove makes it a rewarding destination for those willing to make the drive.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Jalama Beach County Park is 1-2ft with a 4.4s swell period. Wind is NW at 14mph. 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 Jalama Beach County Park is 1-2ft, produced by a 3.4ft NW wind swell swell at 4s, a 2.3ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 17s, a 1.1ft SSW 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 Jalama Beach County Park is Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.1s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Jalama Beach County Park works best with a NW swell and E 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 Jalama Beach County Park. 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.
Jalama Beach County Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Jalama Beach is a scenic sandy beach break located on the remote northern edge of Santa Barbara County, offering consistent winter swells wrapped around the point with a northeast-facing exposure. The beach setup provides fun, workable waves across a range of skill levels, with the advantage of relatively uncrowded conditions due to its isolated location and small parking area. The picturesque setting between rugged cliffs and a protected cove makes it a rewarding destination for those willing to make the drive.
The prime season at Jalama Beach County Park is winter, 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 Jalama Beach County Park include rocks at point ends, strong currents, isolated location, limited facilities. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Jalama Beach County Park 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).
