Santa Barbara County, California
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with moderate SSE wind around 7mph.
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with moderate SSE wind around 7mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Rincon Point for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Rincon Point, 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 moderate SSE wind around 7mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the NE.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 0-1ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 1-2ft at poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor 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 Rincon Point turns Good.
Check Rincon Point from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Rincon Point is a classic right-hand point break that peels off consistently along a rocky headland in Santa Barbara County, offering long, quality waves that peel down the point during proper swells. The spot handles a range of swell directions thanks to its protected geography along the Santa Barbara coast, with the best waves arriving during Southern Hemisphere winter swells combined with offshore northwest winds. This is a scenic, well-established break that rewards patience with extended rides and a fun, forgiving wave face for intermediate surfers looking to improve their skills.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Rincon Point is 0-1ft with a 4.9s swell period. Wind is E at 0mph. 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 Rincon Point is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.2ft WSW wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.6ft SSW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 Rincon Point is Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 1ft waves, a 14s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Rincon Point works best with a W swell and NE 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 Rincon Point. 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.
Rincon Point is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Rincon Point is a classic right-hand point break that peels off consistently along a rocky headland in Santa Barbara County, offering long, quality waves that peel down the point during proper swells. The spot handles a range of swell directions thanks to its protected geography along the Santa Barbara coast, with the best waves arriving during Southern Hemisphere winter swells combined with offshore northwest winds. This is a scenic, well-established break that rewards patience with extended rides and a fun, forgiving wave face for intermediate surfers looking to improve their skills.
The prime season at Rincon Point 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 Rincon Point include rocks, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Rincon Point 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).
