Santa Barbara County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 7-8ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 10mph NW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 26mph.
Sun, May 17: 10–11ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 10-11ft and poor - fair with 16mph NNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 24mph.
Mon, May 18: 7–8ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 9-10ft waves on WNW swell at 12s with light winds out of the ESE. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the E. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the NW. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
13s period — unlock the full 16-day forecast to track it
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
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 6-8ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is WNW at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor - 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 6-8ft, produced by a 1.4ft WNW primary swell at 16s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 1.1ft SSW tertiary swell at 15s, a 9.4ft NW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 9ft waves, a 11.55s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
