Santa Barbara County, California
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 3s with light S winds.
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 3s with light S winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Refugio State Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Refugio State Beach, 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: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, gentle S breeze, poor conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 15mph N winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with gentle N breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with 8mph from the N. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 13s and light NNW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Refugio State Beach turns Good.
Check Refugio State Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Refugio State Beach is 1-2ft with a 3.9s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Refugio State Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft WNW wind swell swell at 4s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 16s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 20s. 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 Refugio State Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 14.9s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Refugio State Beach 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 Refugio State Beach. 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.
Refugio State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 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.
The prime season at Refugio State Beach 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 Refugio State Beach include occasional rip currents, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. 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).
