Santa Barbara County, California
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the SE.
A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the SE.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Miramar for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Miramar, 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. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with gentle SE breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle E breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 13s with light winds out of the NE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 14s with light NNW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle N breeze.
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 Miramar turns Good.
Check Miramar from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Miramar is a sandy beach break located on Santa Barbara County's coast, offering approachable waves that work well for newer surfers and those looking for a mellow session. The beach-facing NNE orientation captures westerly swells nicely while being protected from harsh onshore winds by easterly breeze patterns. This is a fun, accessible spot perfect for learning or enjoying consistent beach break peelers during fall swell season.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Miramar is 0-1ft with a 4.9s swell period. Wind is SSW at 3mph. 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 Miramar is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.2ft WSW wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft 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 Miramar is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 13.6s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Miramar works best with a W 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 Miramar. 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.
Miramar is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Miramar is a sandy beach break located on Santa Barbara County's coast, offering approachable waves that work well for newer surfers and those looking for a mellow session. The beach-facing NNE orientation captures westerly swells nicely while being protected from harsh onshore winds by easterly breeze patterns. This is a fun, accessible spot perfect for learning or enjoying consistent beach break peelers during fall swell season.
The prime season at Miramar 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 Miramar include shorebreak, rip currents during larger swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Miramar 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).
