Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast, Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, California
Current Conditions
Very PoorWave Height
Flat
flat to ankle high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
7mph
ESE / Gusts 12mph
Conditions
Very Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.5ft @ 14sSW
Secondary
0.5ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.3ft @ 11sW
Wind Swell
0.7ft @ 2sE
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 31Flat
Very Poor6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 1Flat
Very PoorPretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with light winds out of the W.
6am9am12pm3pm
14s SW|2-4mph NNW
Thu, Apr 2Flat
Very PoorNot the most exciting day — Flat and very poor conditions with 10mph from the NW.
6am9am12pm3pm
13s SW|10-11mph NNW
Forecast Charts
Refugio State Beach Surf Spot Guide
Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Winter
Refugio State Beach offers accessible, mellow beach breaks perfect for learners and casual surfers looking to avoid crowds. The sandy bottom and consistent winter swells from the west create forgiving, rolling waves ideal for building fundamentals. This relatively underdeveloped stretch of Santa Barbara County coastline provides a peaceful alternative to busier nearby breaks, with a scenic state beach setting.
Occasional rip currentsCold water
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Refugio State Beach?
The current wave height at Refugio State Beach is Flat with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is ESE at 7mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.
How accurate is the Refugio State Beach surf forecast?
Our Refugio State Beach 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Refugio State Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Refugio State Beach is Flat, produced by a 0.5ft SW primary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.3ft W tertiary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft E wind swell swell at 2s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Refugio State Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Refugio State Beach is Wednesday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 0ft waves, a 13.45s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.