Santa Barbara County, California
Best window·Wednesday 6AM–9AM·5ft·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.
Tue, Jun 30: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SW swell at 14s and moderate NNW wind around 9mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 8s with light NNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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 5-6ft with a 9.7s swell period. Wind is WNW at 6mph 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 Jalama Beach County Park is 5-6ft, produced by a 5ft WNW primary swell at 10s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.05s 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
